It was set to be a brand-new chapter in her career, and her first big move away from terrestrial TV. But Holly Willoughby’s excitement over her new Netflix show has been clouded by reports that confidential details about her salary have been leaked.
The presenter is being paid a rumoured £1million to host new reality jungle competition Bear Hunt alongside survival expert Bear Grylls, and insiders recently alleged that her new bosses at the streaming giant were “upset” over the leak – although other sources later “rubbished” those claims.
A source tells heat the stories have made Holly feel like she doesn’t know who to trust.
“Just as Holly thought everything was getting back on track, she feels very betrayed again over the stories about Netflix being upset over her wages being made public,” we’re told.
“This is such a big deal for her and she wants to do more work for them, so the last thing she would want to do is burn her bridges so early. It’s embarrassing and upsetting that a story like this has come out when she wants to be trusted and seen as a big asset to Netflix. She’s not one to discuss money and is always professional.”
Former Little Mixer Jesy Nelson is rumoured to be among the star-studded line-up for the upcoming Bear Hunt, which sees celebrities pitted against obstacles in the Central American jungle, and is due to start filming this month.
It’s a major step for Holly, who’s so far best known for presenting This Morning for 14 years, alongside her former BFF Phillip Schofield. So, she’s determined not to let this new scandal tarnish her reputation after such a tough year.
“Holly won’t let this deter her from her plans to relaunch her whole career, and just has to know who to trust. This show has a lot riding on it for both Netflix and Holly, and if it’s a hit, who knows what other opportunities it can bring,” we’re told.
“For so many years, she always felt that she couldn’t shake off her This Morning image, no matter what she did, and was at her happiest career-wise when she covered for Ant in I’m A Celeb. It showed a different side to her and she can’t wait to surprise everyone again.”
The insider adds, “It’s a big thing for her, as she’s going to have to travel far away from home – and she knows that Netflix can be quite brutal if a show isn’t hitting expectations. She’s very excited about it, but feels it’s been tarnished a bit. But she’s got through worse and she can’t wait for the reaction when it comes out.”