Holly Willoughby’s BBC Contract Paused Following Departure from This Morning
Following Holly Willoughby's departure from This Morning after a remarkable 14-year tenure as the former TV icon, there are reports suggesting that the BBC is now contemplating a "golden handcuffs" arrangement to secure her services.
According to reports, Holly Willoughby has purportedly “missed out on a substantial BBC contract” subsequent to her departure from This Morning, where she spent 14 years as a presenter.
Allegedly, BBC executives were eager to secure Holly, 42, with an exclusive deal often referred to as “golden handcuffs”. However, her exit from This Morning during a tumultuous year for the star is believed to have led to a postponement in these plans.
A source informed The Sun, stating: “At this point in time, Holly won’t be entering into an exclusive agreement with the BBC or becoming the face of any of their upcoming programmes.
“Their ‘golden handcuffs’ arrangements are quite rare, and Holly was being considered for a significant role with them.”
The source went on to say, “However, given the events of the past five months, the BBC has decided to allow her some breathing space before extending any offers.”
BBC’s Content Chief, Charlotte Moore, has reportedly been working towards strengthening the connection between the BBC and Holly Willoughby. There are plans in motion to position her as a “significant figure” within the network, notwithstanding her longstanding affiliation with ITV on major shows like This Morning and Dancing on Ice.
While ITV awaits the outcome of an independent investigation into This Morning, the BBC is understood to be holding off on any decisions regarding Holly. The network is inclined towards affording Holly some “breathing space” as she takes a hiatus from television to focus on her family. However, discussions between the BBC and Holly may be on the horizon.
OK! has reached out to Holly’s representatives and the BBC for comment.
This development follows reports that ITV has been inundated with job applications to fill Holly’s role as the main presenter on This Morning.
Sources within ITV suggest that within moments of her resignation, they were deluged with calls from agents proposing their celebrity clients for the position.
According to The Daily Mail, numerous notable figures from the realms of news, sport, and entertainment have expressed interest in securing the position. The publication asserts that even presenters from the BBC have approached the rival channel in hopes of obtaining the role.
A presenter from This Morning informed MailOnline: “The phones haven’t stopped ringing as television, radio personalities put their names forward to host the show. Every broadcaster, from the world of news, sport, entertainment, has been in touch with bosses. Agents have been in contact with ITV bosses to put forward their stars in the hope to take the helm of the two and a half-hour daily show.”
The source added that entertainment figures are drawn to the show’s “loyal audience” and the potentially “lucrative” brand deals that come with fame.
On the 10th of October, 2023, Holly announced her departure from This Morning after 14 years of hosting, citing that the time was right for her family.
