Holly Willoughby is said to be feeling terrible about signing up for a new Netflix series that was filmed abroad.
The 43-year-old host remained mostly out of the spotlight towards the end of last year after leaving This Morning, months after Phillip Schofield departed after his ‘unwise but not criminal’ affair admission.
Holly has now returned to Dancing On Ice with Stephen Mulhern and just revealed a new Netflix project with Bear Grylls.
The 49-year-old survival expert will parachute British icons into the Central American forest under the working title Bear Hunt.
Holly, on the other hand, has apparently been ‘torn’ between the new job and spending time away from her children.
The television personality is married to producer Dan Baldwin, with whom she has three children: son Harry, 14, daughter Belle, 12, and eight-year-old son Chester.
‘Holly will naturally miss her children and husband when she is away – she had lived in a lovely bubble with them while she took time off work. So it will be hard being away,’ a source said.
The insider continued to OK!: ‘Like so many mums, she feels that mum guilt as she tries to juggle family life with her TV career.
‘It’s something she’s spoken about openly in the past – and she also wants to show other mums that she is just the same, she feels it too.
‘But she knows that, ultimately, she is setting a good example to her little ones by being a working mum.’
Holly has previously addressed feeling mum-guilt, saying: ‘I feel guilty about everything – so it is totally normal, but what I would say is and this is what I’ve had to focus on, where’s the guilt coming from?
‘Because I think the problem with working mum guilt, you sort of think, “Well, I’m feeling guilty because I’m not there to drop my kids off in the morning because I have to go to work.”
‘What I’m feeling guilty about is, in some way, I’m telling myself I clearly don’t love my kids because I love my career more than my children, which is why I’m choosing to do this.
‘Of course that is not the case, I know that’s not the case, I know I love my kids more than anything on this planet. So why am I thinking like that? It’s because I believe that is what everyone else is thinking.
‘You just have to kind of re-evaluate, whose rules you are living by are they yours, are they your opinions, or are they other ones you think are out there?’
This follows allegations that Holly intends to build her worldwide brand and has engaged David and Victoria Beckham‘s old public relations team to accomplish so.
An insider said: ‘After everything she went through last year, Holly’s circle felt she might step away from the spotlight. Her ordeal knocked her confidence.
‘But with this new move she is actually planning to expand her brand further than ever before.’
They continued to The Mirror: ‘She feels Caroline and her team are the best people to help mastermind this and is thrilled to be working with them.’
Caroline managed the Beckhams’ public relations and publicity for many years, particularly when the midfielder was sent off during the 1998 World Cup.
She later co-founded a public relations firm that represents artists such as Maya Jama, Sam Smith, and Zayn Malik.
As her new Netflix programme was disclosed, it was also reported that the Wylde Moon creator was being courted by the BBC, while ITV is giving her a lucrative contract to stay on the channel.
A source previously said that there are plans to see Holly return to Dancing On Ice in 2025, claiming: ‘Contracts are being negotiated but the chiefs love her and they know that there are others who would love to sign her up but ITV love her and they want to keep her very much part of the ITV furniture for years to come.’
The insider continued to The Mail on Sunday: ‘Holly has a real fondness for the show, it really catapulted her career from a children’s presenter into grown up television so ITV very much hope that she will agree to the deal.’
According to reports, executives are looking into alternative shows Holly can host, as she will not be committed for a show on the channel for the first time in 20 years following the Dancing On Ice final, in which Ryan Thomas was proclaimed champion.
Holly left This Morning in October after 14 years, calling it a tough farewell.
She said at the time: ‘I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning.
‘To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so so much. This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we’ve done together. Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive. To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you.
‘Most of all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. You’ve been so loyal, so supportive and the very best company every day.
‘Richard and Judy said “we only look after this show, it will always belong to the viewers”. It’s been an honour to just be part of its story and I know this story has many chapters left to go. Sadly, however, I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family.
‘I will miss you all so much. Holly.’
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1. Dancing On Ice is available to watch on ITVX.
Source My Celebrity Life.