Holly Willoughby given two and a half weeks off from ITV’s This Morning to film big new show on rival BBC

HOLLY Willoughby has been given two and a half weeks off presenting ITV’s This Morning to film a big new show on rival BBC. Her bosses are so desperate to keep her, they are allowing her to co-host Wim Hof’s Superstar Survival with comic Lee Mack, 53. Holly, 40, will fly to Italy on January […]

HOLLY Willoughby has been given two and a half weeks off presenting ITV’s This Morning to film a big new show on rival BBC.

Her bosses are so desperate to keep her, they are allowing her to co-host Wim Hof’s Superstar Survival with comic Lee Mack, 53.

Holly, 40, will fly to Italy on January 17, a day after launching ITV’s Sunday night prime-time talent series Dancing on Ice with This Morning co-presenter Phillip Schofield, 59.

She will fly back to the UK at weekends for the ice dance show.

It comes three years after she filled in for Ant McPartlin on I’m a Celebrity during his self-imposed break to seek help for drink and drug addiction.

A source said: “Holly loved I’m a Celeb so much it gave her the confidence to strike out on her own and do more mainstream solo TV projects.

“Holly did an excellent job filling in for Ant and was one of the highlights of the show that year.

“She has high career ambitions and is starting the year as she means to go on.

“However, she absolutely loves This Morning and her on-screen partnership with Phillip, so isn’t going anywhere long-term. She’s just grateful ITV bosses are giving her the freedom to do her own projects.”

Holly, who is reported to earn £730,000 a year for her four-day-a-week role on This Morning, is estimated to be getting £200,000 for her BBC job.

Wim Hof, 62, known as The Iceman, is an extreme athlete who can withstand freezing temperatures.

Celebs taking part in the show will tackle wild and death-defying challenges in Europe’s harshest conditions, to try to defeat their demons including anxiety and insomnia.

 Holly has said: “I can’t wait to team up with Lee and Wim on this show.

“Lee is a favourite in our house because he’s so hilariously funny and I’ve been a fan of Wim for a long time.”