Holly Willoughby is due to fly to Costa Rica shortly to film her new Netflix TV show, and her safety has been put in the hands of experts for the trip. The TV presenter is teaming up with Bear Grylls for new show Bear Hunt, which will air in January 2025.
Holly, 42, will host the reality show, which will feature at least ten other celebrities. Filming begins in May and Netflix has gone to great lengths to ensure all celebrities are well looked after, with their safety being the highest priority.
The streaming giant is said to be “investing huge sums” to ensure its next project is a huge success. This includes ensuring all the cast, including Holly, are in safe hands. Former special forces and ex-military personnel have reportedly been hired, and a further £1 million is said to be spent on security in the jungle.
“Netflix is investing huge sums in developing a show that can compete with ITV’s ‘I’m a Celebrity’ by bringing in big names and choosing a tropical setting. But keeping Holly and everyone else in Costa Rica fully safe is a top priority,” a Netflix insider told The Sun.
The source added: “This means hiring specialised security teams, many of whom will be ex-military personnel and special forces experts. They will also need specialised vehicles, secure accommodation and a secure filming location.”
The cast of Bear Hunt are set to fly to Costa Rica at the end of the month, with filming beginning in May. In the reality show, the celebrities must escape a “hunt” in the Central American jungle.
The new Netflix show is a far cry from Holly’s usual daytime TV image, with the star rising to fame through shows such as This Morning and Dancing on Ice. A source claimed the mother-of-three is “distancing herself” from the jobs she is used to and wants to “show a different side of herself”.
She still presents Dancing on Ice, but quit This Morning in October and stepped away from the spotlight for a while. The move from British broadcasters to the international platform Netflix also opens up global opportunities for Holly, the source claims.
“2024 is about showing a different side of her and attracting a larger global fan base, not just in the UK. Her new Netflix show with Bear Grylls has proven her ambition and confidence to make it as a global star,” they said OK!