Holly Willoughby is going all out to make sure that her new show is a major hit, as she prepares to jet off to South America for her hosting role.
Hoping to follow in the footsteps of fellow Brit Michelle Keegan – whose Netflix show Fool Me Once turned her into an international household name overnight – sources reveal that Holly, 43, is keen to go all guns blazing into her latest project in order to also crack the States.
And that includes upping her exercise routines, having regular facials and making sure she eats a clean diet.
“Holly’s determined to make this show a huge hit – not only because it’s her first big job since leaving This Morning, but also given the fact it’s going to be aired across the world, which could help her enjoy Stateside success,” a source tells Closer.
“Understandably, Holly wants to make sure she looks and feels her very best, so she’s been going all-out behind the scenes to ensure she’s Hollywood ready – enjoying regular facials and skin-boosting treatments, upping her Pilates, yoga and boxing sessions and eating as clean as possible, while still enjoying herself with occasional indulgences.”
After she was spotted on a dog walk with husband of 14 years, Dan Baldwin, fans have started questioning whether Holly’s prep also extends to having some minor tweaks done. Suggesting that the star might have had lip filler recently, one online commenter wrote, “I wonder if it’s because she is supposedly trying to break America? More pressure to look youthful!”
The former This Morning presenter has always been open about her beauty tricks and secrets. Earlier this month, Holly – who is an ambassador for Garnier – showed fans how she maintains her iconic blonde hair with box dye and she regularly details her beauty treatments online including micro-needling facials.
Since starting her lifestyle blog Wylde Moon in 2021, Holly has also opened up about how she maintains her incredible physique through kickboxing and Pilates, the latter of which she started back in 2012 after the birth of her daughter Belle, 12 – all things that will help propel her career across the pond.
“She’s always loved the idea of spending time in LA and landing a great show like Dancing with the Stars,” our source adds. “So she’s hellbent on ensuring she uses this opportunity to catch the eyes of some big US TV execs to help propel her career to the next level.”
Holly will be spending time in South America with Bear Grylls filming her new show Bear Hunt. The project comes after a difficult couple of years for Holly, who’s also mum to sons Harry, 14, and Chester, nine, with husband Dan, 49. First came ‘Queuegate’ in September 2022, which saw Holly and her then This Morning co-star Phillip Schofield ridiculed for skipping the queue to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state following her death. The pair responded to the backlash by informing viewers that they’d been given press access and “would never jump a queue”.
Then, in May 2023, Phillip, 62, dramatically quit This Morning amid rumours that he had been having an “unwise but not illegal affair” with a younger male colleague. And as if that wasn’t enough, Holly herself then stepped down from her role on the show after an alleged kidnap plot against her was uncovered.
“Holly’s been through hell and back over the last year,” our source explains. “But she’s determined to put it in the past, move on and smash her comeback to ensure she not only regains her crown as the nation’s sweetheart, but potentially becomes the next big UK host to hit global fame too.”
Despite the pressure Holly faces to make this work – especially after her shows Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof and The Games were both axed after just one series – she’s being well supported by her family and friends.
On 17 April, Holly’s close friends Christine Lampard and Nicola Appleton threw her a lavish farewell party at a high-end Mexican restaurant in Chelsea, booking a private room and treating the star to personalised cocktails.
Plus, in March, Holly signed with legendary PR Caroline McAteer – the woman credited with being responsible for taking brand Beckham worldwide and whose team currently represents stars including Maya Jama and Sam Smith.
Our source concludes, “Holly’s reached the stage in her career and personal life, where she’s ready for new and exciting opportunities, and landing a show in America has always been a dream which she feels more ready than ever to take on.
“Now the kids are that bit older, it gives her more flexibility and she’d love to spend a few months in LA with the family – especially knowing how much they’d enjoy the outdoorsy life in the Californian sunshine. With Dan also being in the industry, it could potentially open up some doors for him too so it’s something they’re keen to explore if the right opportunity comes up.”