Holly Willoughby has been dealt a blow after the BBC confirmed her show Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof has been axed.
The series, hosted by Holly, 42, and Lee Mack, 55, saw eight celebrities embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure under the training of extreme athlete Wim Hof, 64.
Television presenter Holly quit as host of This Morning in October after an alleged kidnap and murder plot.
And, while she preparing to front ITV’s Dancing On Ice this month, it means Holly has one less project to focus on for the time being.
A TV insider told The Sun: ‘This bad news caps off what’s been an extremely difficult year for Holly, which has seen her drastically reassess her life and career.
Holly Willoughby has been dealt a blow after the BBC confirmed her show Freeze the Fear with Wim Hof has been axed (pictured in March)
Television presenter Holly quit as host of This Morning in October after an alleged kidnap and murder plot (Holly pictured on Dancing On Ice in January 2023)
‘Having Freeze the Fear axed reduces her options and leaves a question mark over where she goes next after leaving her biggest gig as co-host of This Morning.
‘It’s also disappointing for her husband Dan, who runs the production company Hungry Bear that made the show.
‘But they’ll be consoled with the fact that this month they’ll be delivering Michael McIntyre’s Big Show and Gladiators for BBC One.’
A BBC spokesperson told MailOnline: ‘As it stands, there are no immediate plans for another series of Freeze The Fear on the BBC.’
MailOnline has contacted a representative for Holly for comment.
Speculation surrounding the future of Freeze the Fear had been mounting since it first aired in 2022.
It was reported in January last year that the programme had been put on hold with no work having been done on the second series at the time.
The series saw Holly return to the BBC after almost a decade, with her even taking time off from This Morning to film it in January 2022.
Freeze the Fear, hosted by Holly, 42 (right), and Lee Mack, 55 (left), saw eight celebrities embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure under the training of extreme athlete Wim Hof, 64
The likes of Strictly Come Dancing professional Dianne Buswell, actress Tamzin Outhwaite (centre), and former gymnast Gabby Logan took part in the first series
The show was based around Wim, also known as The Iceman, who guided the VIPs though a series of challenges designed to test their limits, both physically and mentally
A source told The Sun last January: ‘Since 2004 Holly has almost exclusively worked for ITV as one of the channel’s most prized presenters.
‘So it was a big deal in the industry that she was hopping over to the BBC and showed she had real confidence in Freeze the Fear being a big success. But as it stands there’s been no work done on a second series.’
The show was based around Wim, also known as The Iceman, who guided the VIPs though a series of challenges designed to test their limits, both physically and mentally.
The likes of Strictly Come Dancing professional Dianne Buswell, actress Tamzin Outhwaite, and former gymnast Gabby Logan took part in the first series.
Each week saw them take on gruelling challenges, which gradually become more daring as the series progressed.
Under the encouragement of Wim, the celebrities learned to reap the rewards of cold-water therapy and faced a unique test of mental strength.
Wim has dedicated his life to showing others that they can achieve things they thought were impossible.
He has previously used special techniques to control his mind and body while running a half marathon above the Arctic circle barefoot, submerged himself in ice for 1hr 52 mins, and climbed Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania in just his shorts and shoes.
Holly has reportedly been made some big money offers from radio bosses who hope to sign her up for their stations (pictured in September)
‘There is a natural power in the cold,’ he said previously. ‘When we embrace it, is when the magic happens.
‘This is not about being tough. It is about taking ownership of the power of your own mind.’
It comes after Holly was reportedly made some big money offers from radio bosses who hope to sign her up for their stations.
It is claimed the BBC are leading the way with a bid to get her to agree to a radio job.
A source told The Sun: ‘Radio 2 and Global are both keen on getting Holly on their books.
‘After she quit This Morning, she has more time on her hands and a weekly radio gig could be the perfect fit.
‘Claudia Winkleman stepped down from her weekly slot on Radio 2 and the BBC would love to see if Holly would consider it.
‘Global is also keen to see if she’d work with them, especially after Amanda Holden proved to be such a hit for them on Heart and Kate Garraway on Smooth Radio.
Holly is reportedly set to address her three-month TV absence when she returns to Dancing On Ice (pictured on the show in March 2023)
‘There have been a number of approaches to Holly which she can weigh up whenever she is ready.’
MailOnline has contacted Global and a representative for Holly for comment. The BBC declined to comment when contacted by MailOnline.
It comes after it was reported Holly is set to address her three-month TV absence when she returns to Dancing On Ice this month.
Holly will host the ITV skating show alongside Stephen Mulhern, MailOnline exclusively last week.
The series kicks off on January 14, almost three months after she learned of an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her.
Holly will thank her fans for their support in hopes to ‘mark the start’ of a new positive year.
A TV insider told The Sun: ‘Holly is really looking forward to putting 2023 behind her and focusing on a fresh, positive start to a new year.’
They continued: ‘She is considering a very brief comment at the top of the opening show, along the lines of, “It’s good to be back,” or “Thanks for your support,” drawing a firm line under her hiatus and marking the beginning of a new optimistic term.’
The TV presenter is returning to host the ITV skating show alongside Stephen Mulhern , MailOnline exclusively revealed last week
It comes as Dancing On Ice bosses are said to have offered Holly heightened security and want to make sure she feels completely ‘secure’ on the show, according to The Sun.
The publication also claimed that Holly has signed a one-year rolling contract with an option to step back next year in case she wants a longer break.
A source told The Sun: ‘Bosses have been working hard to ensure she feels completely secure, trying not to put any pressure on all while making sure she knows they are ready to support her every step of the way.’
Holly signed a deal over Christmas after weeks of deliberating over whether to present the show, and is said to be ‘excited’ about to getting back to work on the show that she previously hosted with her former friend Phillip Schofield.
An ITV insider told MailOnline: ‘Holly is a star and everyone was so very much hoping that she would decide to come back.
‘After many discussions and a lot of thought, she thought that getting some normality into her life would be a good thing.
‘There are obvious worries about going on live television, her main priority is her family, ITV have been hugely understanding and have not put any pressure on her at all.’
They added: ‘They wanted to give her all of the time she needed but it has been a rough decision for her. Time was ticking but the bosses were trying to remain calm.’
Dancing On Ice bosses are said to have offered Holly heightened security and want to make sure she feels completely ‘secure’ on the show
Katie Rawcliffe, head of entertainment commissioning at ITV, said: ‘Holly and Stephen are two of our best loved presenters, so reuniting them 20 years after they first appeared on screen together to host Dancing On Ice marks the start of an exciting year for the show.’
ITV also shared a post to Instagram which read: ‘Dancing On Ice news 20 years since they first worked together, Holly Willoughby and Stephen Mulhern join forces for the greatest show on ice.’
Stephen, who hosts ITV game shows Catchphrase and Deal Or No Deal, is a close friend of Holly and signed a deal to host Dancing On Ice Iast week after agreeing to step into Schofield’s shoes.
ITV did not have a stand-in for Holly waiting in the wings, however, meaning that all hopes were pinned on her.
Holly and Phillip, 61, had co-hosted Dancing On Ice from its inception in 2006 until 2011.
Christine Lampard then replaced Holly for the next three series until the show ended in 2014.
The series was then revived by ITV in 2018, with both Holly and Phillip returning as hosts up until this year.
Phillip was then fired by ITV after he admitted to lying about a romantic relationship he had with a former younger colleague, immediately ending his contract at This Morning.
After weeks of deliberating over whether to host, Holly signed the deal over Christmas and is said to be ‘excited’ about to getting back to work on the show (pictured with Phillip Schofield in on the last series)
Stephen emerged as the frontrunner to take over from Phillip, after presenting spinoff series Defrosted for a year back in 2006 and standing in for Phillip when he fell ill with Covid last year.
The TV presenter confirmed in October that he was in talks with bosses to join as co-host after Phillip’s departure.
Stephen told MailOnline it would be ‘amazing’ to front the show and that co-hosting alongside longtime friend and colleague Holly always makes for a ‘great time’.
He said: ‘I used to do the spinoff show Defrosted and when I stood in for Phil when he wasn’t too well, he had Covid, I really enjoyed it and it was so lovely being back with Holly.
‘We had a great time together plus lots of the team were the same from when I did the ITV2 show.
‘We are talking about it, but I promise you now that nothing is confirmed but if it happens, it will be absolutely amazing… if it doesn’t, look, it doesn’t. I promise you I would tell you if we had it confirmed at this point.
‘The lineup is the best it has been in a few years… I am keeping across the lineup, just in case… It is a huge staple, and it has been around.’
Holly’s future on the show had been thrown into doubt after she stepped down from This Morning after finally being ‘tipped over the edge’ by an alleged ‘kidnap and murder plot’.
The mother-of-three, who originally joined This Morning in 2009, released a statement saying she was leaving the show ‘for the sake of her family’.
Gavin Plumb, 36, has pleaded not guilty to charges of soliciting murder and incitement to commit kidnap the former This Morning host. The security guard will remain behind bars after being denied bail.
During a short hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court, Gavin Plumb, from Harlow, Essex, who was not present, was refused a bail application. He has a trial date fixed for June 24 next year.
Holly has also paused her £1million deal with Marks & Spencer because she remains fearful for her safety.
It comes after Holly stepped down from This Morning in October (pictured in September 2023) after finally being ‘tipped over the edge’ by an alleged ‘kidnap and murder plot’
She has fronted collections for the high street chain since 2018 but told bosses that she needs to take time out from the contract while she comes to terms with her terror over the case.
The star usually fronts several ‘capsule’ collections per year and also offers fashion tips to shoppers on the store’s website.
She has also frozen her seven-figure deal with L’Oreal, as the face of its Garnier Nutrisse hair dye. She has not taken part in any promotional activity with the brand.
It is not known whether she has forgone any income from the contracts.
