BBC want Holly Willoughby

The BBC are hoping to “woo” Holly Willoughby away from ITV.

Bosses at the network are keen to sign up the ‘This Morning’ presenter to front more evening entertainment shows after she “hugely enjoyed” teaming up with Lee Mack on ‘Freeze The Fear With Wim Hof’ and are starting by commissioning a second season of the tough celebrity challenge show.

A source told the Mail on Sunday newspaper: “Bosses at the BBC want Holly to be theirs, it’s as simple as that, and they know she really enjoyed Freeze The Fear. If they can keep her sweet with programs like that then they hope they can gradually woo her into the right thing.

“With the exception of ‘Strictly’ which is only on for a few months of the year, the Beeb struggle for big entertainment programs, particularly those hosted by women.

“Holly is popular across generations – she appeals to young and old. To the BBC, she is an absolute gem, they want her and they will spend the money that they have to.

“Holly is very much aware and takes the view that she will go where the programs are.

“So if the BBC get the shows right, it’s simple – they will get her.”

Meanwhile, ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ judge Craig Revel Horwood recently admitted he’d love to see Holly and her ‘This Morning’ co-host Phillip Schofield take part in the dance contest.

Asked about his dream contestants, he said: “Oh, Phil would be fabulous. Phil and Holly. Absolutely. I’d love to see them on it. They’d be great bookings, wouldn’t they?

“The only thing is the timing because you literally need to have three months off. For people who are on news teams, like Dan Walker, who was still going in at 4am even after training until 10pm, it’s like torture. [‘Good Morning Britain’ presenter Susanna Reid] was the same. But oh my God, she was driven! She was a really good contestant but I don’t know how she did it. Her schedule was insane.”