The BBC has turned down Holly Willoughby’s offer of a major Golden Foxes contract.
Executives had been quietly courting the 42-year-old presenter for a year before she exited the This Morning show last week.
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The BBC has stopped trying to quietly woo Holly Willoughby after she left This Morning last weekCredit: Rex Features
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The past few months have been difficult for Holly and have included an external investigation into This Morning during her long stint with Phillip SchofieldCredit: ITV
Head of BBC Content Charlotte Moore worked to deepen their ties.
But insiders said access is on hold after a difficult few months for Holly, including an alleged kidnapping plot and an external investigation into This Morning during her long stint with Phillip Schofield.
A source said: “Holly will not sign an exclusive deal with the BBC — or be the face of any of their new shows — at this time.
“Their golden handcuff contracts are rare, and Holly was about to become a major player for them.
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“She was great in Freeze The Fear with (Dutch extreme athlete) Wim Hof and made it to the final two to host the BBC’s Survivor reboot.
“But having seen everything that has unfolded over the past five months, the BBC want to give her a bit of a breather before making any offers.
“ITV’s internal report to This Morning has still not been published and the impact it could have also needs to be considered.”
Last fall, The Sun told how Charlotte treated Holly to a charity party and dined with Zara McDermott, who has since become a star of the broadcaster.
Holly got her prime time break for them in 2021 alongside Bradley Walsh on Take Off With Bradley And Holly.
Last year she hosted Freeze The Fear with Lee Mack.
The Sun also revealed how Joel Dommett talked Holly into appearing on Survivor after she struggled to match dates.
She quit This Morning after 14 years after details of the disturbing threat emerged.
Security guard Gavin Plumb, 36, from Harlow, Essex, has been charged with incitement to kidnap and conspiracy to murder.
Friends said Holly was in no rush to get back to work and was spending time with her television executive husband Dan Baldwin and their three children.
She is said to still be undecided about returning as host of ITV’s Dancing On Ice, which airs in January.
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Holly got her big break for the BBC on Take Off With Bradley And Holly, alongside Bradley Walsh Credit: BBC/Hungry Bear/Guy Levy/Matt Burlem
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She also hosted Freeze The Fear alongside Lee Mack last year Credit: BBC/Hungry Bear Media/Pete Dadds
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