Major update in Holly Willoughby’s TV career as she won’t get big BBC deal after quitting This Morning

THE BBC has backed away from offering Holly Willoughby a huge golden handcuffs deal.

Execs have been quietly wooing the 42-year-old host for a year before her This Morning exit last week.

BBC Content boss Charlotte Moore was working to deepen their ties.

But insiders said the approach is on hold following a difficult few months for Holly, including an alleged kidnap plot and an external inquiry into This Morning during her long stint with Phillip Schofield.

A source said: “Holly isn’t going to be signed up on an exclusive deal for the BBC — or to be the face of any of their new shows — at this moment in time.

“Their golden handcuffs deals are few and far between and Holly was being lined up to become a major player for them.

“She was great on Freeze The Fear with (Dutch extreme athlete) Wim Hof and got down to the final two to host BBC’s reboot of Survivor.

“But after seeing everything that has unfolded over the past five months, the BBC want to give her some breathing space before making any offers.

“The ITV internal report into This Morning has still not been published either and the impact that could have also needs to be taken into consideration.”

The Sun told last autumn how Holly was wined and dined by Charlotte at a charity bash alongside Zara McDermott, who has since become a star for the broadcaster.

Holly got her primetime break for them in 2021 alongside Bradley Walsh on gameshow Take Off With Bradley And Holly.

Last year she hosted Freeze The Fear with Lee Mack.

The Sun also revealed how Holly was pipped for the Survivor presenting gig by Joel Dommett after she struggled to make the dates work.

She stepped down from This Morning after 14 years as details emerged of the disturbing threat to her.

Security guard Gavin Plumb, 36, of Harlow, Essex, has been charged with incitement to kidnap and conspiracy to murder.

Pals said Holly would not be rushing back to work and was spending time with her TV exec husband Dan Baldwin and their three kids.

She is said to be still undecided as to whether she will return to host ITV’s Dancing On Ice, airing in January.