Holly Willoughby signs to Netflix to host new jungle-based show

Holly Willoughby has sensationally signed to Netflix to host a celebrity jungle-based reality show named Bear Hunt, MailOnline can exclusively reveal.

The presenter, who quit ITV's This Morning last October, will appear on the show alongside star survival expert, Bear Grylls.

Described by television insiders a more challenging version of the BBC's Survivor, celebrity contestants will be pitted against Grylls. It will be filmed in the South American jungle.

It is Holly's first show away from terrestrial television.

A show insider told MailOnline: 'It's a great and such an exciting fresh series and of course a great challenge for Holly.

'It's a great opportunity for her.'

The show, which is produced by Grylls' company, will see him pursue celebrity contestants and when he catches them, they will be eliminated.

Holly's new job comes just days after Cat Deeley replaced her on This Morning, five months after she announced her departure.

She will begin filming the programme later in the year and it is expected to air in 2025.

Netflix bosses are said to be 'ecstatic' that they have been able to hire her. One said: 'Holly was their woman for this project from the word go.

'They are absolutely delighted to have got her to sign on the line, hopefully there will be many more opportunities to work with her down the line too.'

Holly, 43, will be familiar with the jungle surroundings. 

In 2018 she hosted I'm A Celeb alongside Declan Donnelly - the highest rated series ever.

Standing in for Ant McPartlin who was in rehab for alcohol and painkiller addictions, she was hailed a huge success.

She also hosted Freeze the Fear with Dutch extreme athlete Wim Hof in 2022 which was screened on BBC One.

Holly's new role comes just days after The Mail on Sunday revealed that ITV have offered her a lucrative new contract to host next year's series of their skate show, Dancing On Ice.

She is expected to accept the deal after she enjoyed hosting the programme alongside her old friend and colleague Stephen Mulhern.

A show source said: 'Holly really loved it this year, she found it really fun and enjoyable.'

The star quit This Morning last October after 14 years after an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her emerged, leaving her terrified.

Former security guard Gavin Plumb will appear in court in June after pleading not guilty to the charge last November.  

Holly's departure came five months after Phillip Schofield left ITV after his admission to the Mail that he had had a relationship with a much younger colleague and lied about it.

In a statement to the Mail, he said he was 'deeply sorry' for lying about the relationship to ITV, his colleagues, friends and agents.

He said: 'I did have a consensual on-off relationship with a younger male colleague at This Morning.

'Contrary to speculation, whilst I met the man when he was a teenager and was asked to help him to get into television, it was only after he started to work on the show that it became more than just a friendship.

'That relationship was unwise, but not illegal. It is now over.'