Holly Willoughby Tipped as Top Choice to Host Iconic BBC Show Alongside Bradley Walsh Following This Morning Departure
Reportedly, ex-This Morning host Holly Willoughby is now the frontrunner to take on the role described as 'the new Ulrika Jonsson' in the BBC's revival of the legendary show Gladiators.
In the running to helm the BBC revival of the iconic show “Gladiators,” reports suggest that former “This Morning” presenter Holly Willoughby is the leading contender.
Following her departure from “This Morning” last month, reportedly due to a kidnapping threat, there is anticipation that Holly could bring a fresh perspective to the show.
Notably, the original 1990s iteration on ITV was co-hosted by TV personality Ulrika Jonsson, now 56, from 1992 to 2000.
Should Holly, 42, take up the role, she would join current hosts Bradley Walsh, 63, and his son Barney, 35, for a second series scheduled to be filmed next summer.
A source within the television industry informed The Sun: “The BBC has a great admiration for Brad and Barney, but it has also been evident that Brad and Holly have a fantastic rapport, having previously featured together on the BBC programme ‘Take Off’.”
“After Holly’s departure from This Morning, numerous channels and broadcasters have been considering how she could enhance their programmes.
“Given her prominent status, she’s ideally suited for a major entertainment show, and the relaunch of Gladiators unquestionably falls into that category.”
The inaugural season of the reboot has already been recorded and is scheduled to be broadcast in January.
The insider also suggested that the BBC is keen to ‘initiate discussions’ with Holly, viewing her as the ‘clear choice’ to take on the role akin to that of the previous host, Ulrika.
This Morning reached out to Holly’s representative for a statement.
According to the Daily Mail, Holly “narrowly missed out on hosting the BBC reboot of Survivor.” The publication states that the BBC has expressed interest in Holly for some time, hoping to make her a prominent figure for the corporation.
Holly’s future in presenting remains uncertain after her departure from This Morning following 14 years of service, citing a desire to prioritise her family.
Reports suggest that Holly was offered a substantial pay increase to remain on the show after her co-host Phil resigned in May due to revelations about his affair with a younger colleague. However, despite this, Holly chose to leave the show after an alleged plot to harm her was thwarted by the police.
The Mail highlights how Holly’s “family-friendly image and bubbly personality” align perfectly with BBC productions. Additionally, her husband, TV producer Dan Baldwin, reportedly has strong ties to the corporation. His company, Hungry Bear, is set to produce the upcoming Gladiators revival. He is also responsible for Michael McIntyre’s Big Show, which has been airing on the channel since 2015, as well as The Wheel, which launched in 2020.
