OFFICIAL PAPER ITV BOSSES HELL-BENT ON KEEPING RATINGS HIT HOLLY

Star to join double act

JUNGLE bosses want Holly Willoughby back next year, we can reveal.

Producers are “desperate” for her to front another series even if Ant returns in 2019.

She has been a massive hit with I’m A Celebrity viewers and helped the show’s ratings hit an all-time high.

So even if it means Holly becoming a trio with Ant and Dec, I’m A Celeb bosses want to find a way to make the format work.

A show insider said: “Holly has done a great job this series. All of the execs have absolutely loved having her on the show.

“Many presenters would have crumbled under the pressure of joining such a big show but Holly stepped up to the plate.

“The top people at

ITV are now really keen to get her back next year.”

Holly was drafted in to replace troubled Ant McPartlin after he put his

TV career on hold while he battles his addiction to painkillers and booze.

Our insider added: “The original plan was for Holly to stand in while Ant was off and then hand the baton back. But she’s been such a success that producers are now keen to keep her whatever happens. “They are looking into ways of making things work if they have Ant, Dec and Holly.”

ITV have already held meetings about a possible return for Holly.

And it is expected they will make a big money offer as early as next March.

A TV source said: “It’s no surprise ITV are looking to get her back next year. She has been really popular with viewers.

“It now depends on whether or not she wants to do another series. Being out in Australia for five weeks is a big commitment and she has her family to think about.

“She also has commitments at Morning to consider.” I’m A Celebrity bosses feared splitting up Ant and Dec would cause viewing figures to nosedive. But with Holly on board they have increased by almost two million viewers. The first week averaged an incredible 13.1m an episode – putting this series on course to be the biggest in the show’s history.

Ratings for tonight’s final are expected to be sky high.

An industry expert said: “It’s highly possible viewing figures will hit 15m. “This series has had so many fantastic characters and the viewers just can’t get enough of them.” her This