How Holly doubled her money and became the £5m queen of the jungle
SHE has won acclaim from viewers and critics alike for her assured debut week alongside Declan Donnelly on I’m A Celebrity. And Holly Willoughby has also earned herself a multi-million-pound pay rise after replacing Ant McPartlin as a presenter on the hit ITV show.
The Mail on Sunday can reveal that she is being paid a seven-figure bonus for taking on the role at the last minute after Ant pulled out to continue his recovery from alcohol and prescription drug issues.
Holly, 37, earns nearly £2.5million from ITV for hosting This Morning, presenting Dancing On Ice and for appearing as a panellist on Celebrity Juice.
But after saving the day on I’m A Celebrity and helping the show enjoy a huge ratings boost, her earnings have rocketed to the £5 million mark.
And Holly is also set to renegotiate her golden handcuffs deal with the network – as well as the contract she and her husband Dan Baldwin have with ITV for making Celebrity Juice through their production company, Hungry Bear.
A source close to the star said: ‘ITV want to make it clear that she is theirs and they are prepared to pay her for it. With the exception of Ant and Dec, Holly is their most popular and well-known presenter – and they see her as their main appeal to the female market.
‘She has got herself in a place where she can ask for what she wants and ITV will pay her what she is worth. Negotiations on a new contract will start imminently.’
ITV chiefs initially feared Holly might struggle to replace Ant, who has hosted I’m A Celebrity with Dec since it began in 2003. But they are said to have ‘popped open the champagne’ when the viewing figures of 11.9 million for last Sunday’s launch show were revealed. The figures are up from 10.2million for last year’s opener.
They are also thrilled to have increased their audience share of 16 to 34-year-olds – regarded as the ‘golden generation’ for advertisers. The rise is attributed to Holly.
It is a combination of her bright smile, humour and super-toned legs that have made Holly such a hit in the jungle. And The Mail on Sunday can reveal the secret behind her new trim look – she has dropped a dress size since last year – is kickboxing. Friends say she has been practising the martial art twice a week near her home in South West London since last year.
Holly’s slimmed-down figure has also boosted her power as a fashion icon. Her outfits fly off the shelves after she posts details about them on Instagram – a dress she wore on Tuesday night’s show sold out within 90 minutes. This has helped her win a £2million deal to be the face of Marks & Spencer.