Holly Willoughby, the beloved presenter, bid farewell to her friends and loved ones in a star-studded and boozy soiree at a royal hotspot before embarking on a thrilling two-month trip to Costa Rica. The 43-year-old presenter will be heading to Central America along with her co-host Bear Grylls, 49, to film the highly anticipated jungle survival show, Bear Hunt. The show, which carries a whopping £10 million budget, will challenge 10 celebrities in navigating the treacherous terrain of Costa Rica.
To give Holly a memorable send-off, her friends, including Christine Lampard and Nicola Appleton, organized a farewell supper at the renowned Mexican cantina, Ixchel, located on the King's Road. The restaurant is a favorite among celebrities like Poppy Delevingne, Lisa Snowdon, and Jaime Winstone, and even Princess Beatrice is known to frequent the establishment.
The intimate gathering took place in a private room at Ixchel, owned by restaurateur Fraser Carruthers. The guests were treated to a delectable tasting menu along with personalized cocktails, featuring tequila-based drinks and mocktails. The menu, known as the "Full Moon" menu, delighted the diners with dishes such as pork belly tacos, crispy potatoes, and a mouthwatering tres leches cake.
While bidding Holly farewell, her friends also congratulated her on landing her first show away from terrestrial television. After leaving ITV's This Morning in October of the previous year, Holly finalized her role as the host of Bear Hunt. Described by television insiders as a more challenging version of the BBC's Survivor, the show will see Holly overseeing the celebrity contestants as they face off against Bear Grylls in the unforgiving jungle.
An insider close to the show revealed that Bear Hunt is an exciting and fresh series, offering Holly a great opportunity to showcase her skills. Produced by Bear's own company, the show will feature Bear pursuing the celebrity contestants, and those caught by him will be eliminated from the competition.
The timing of Holly's new job coincided with Cat Deeley replacing her on This Morning, five months after Holly's departure. Netflix, the broadcasting giant responsible for Bear Hunt, is reportedly ecstatic to have secured Holly for the project. The streaming platform's executives expressed their delight and hinted at potential future collaborations, stating that Holly was their top choice for the show from the very beginning.
Holly is no stranger to the jungle environment, having previously co-hosted I'm A Celebrity alongside Declan Donnelly in 2018. The series became the highest-rated season of the show to date, cementing Holly's success as a presenter. However, the Central American jungles present a different set of challenges compared to the Australian outback.
Costa Rica, where the show will be filmed, has recently experienced a surge in drug-related violence and criminal activities. To ensure the safety of the cast and crew, Netflix has allocated a staggering £1 million for security measures. The country has witnessed a sharp increase in homicides, with drug trafficking accounting for more than 70% of the killings. Mexican cartels and increased cocaine production in Colombia have contributed to the escalating violence, prompting Costa Rica to seek assistance from the European Union in combating the drug epidemic.
As the show's budget stands at £10 million, a significant portion has been allocated to safeguarding Holly, Bear, and the other celebrity contestants during their Costa Rican adventure. This includes hiring specialist security teams, often comprised of ex-military and special forces personnel, as well as securing safe accommodations and filming locations. The combination of the country's luxurious tourist trade and its dangerous underbelly has presented unique challenges to the production team.
Holly's journey to Costa Rica has not been without its share of turmoil. Last year, she pulled out of presenting an episode of This Morning just moments before going on air, after the police alerted her bosses about an alleged "kidnap and murder" plot. Subsequently, she stepped down as the host of the ITV flagship daytime show, citing the need to prioritize her family's well-being. A 36-year-old security guard, Gavin Plumb, was charged with soliciting murder and incitement to commit kidnap in relation to the alleged plot.
Bear Hunt is scheduled to air in 2025, and the anticipation surrounding the show continues to grow. With its star presenter Holly Willoughby, a thrilling concept, and a stunning location, the survival series has all the ingredients to captivate audiences and provide a gripping viewing experience.
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