Celebrity Bear Hunt will reportedly not return to Costa Rica to film a second series because of drug gang fears.
The reality TV show, hosted by Holly Willoughby, debuted on Netflix earlier this month and saw a whole host of celebrities competing in the Central American jungle.
While a second series has not yet been confirmed by the streaming service, it has been reported that it is set to be commissioned after the popularity of series one.
However, there will be a major change in store as Netflix are planning to move filming from Costa Rica due to safety concerns, according to The Sun.
South Africa and Australia are reportedly being considered as new locations for the show’s second series.
‘There’s a huge amount of planning involved in producing such a huge show,’ a source told the publication.
Celebrity Bear Hunt will reportedly not return to Costa Rica to film a second series because of drug gang fears (pictured: Holly Willoughby and Bear Grylls on the show)
The reality TV show, hosted by Holly Willoughby, is reportedly being commissioned for a second series but will move to South Africa or Australia due to safety concerns
‘That’s not to mention the logistics and safety measures that have to be put in place to look after the welfare of Holly, Bear and the dozen celebrities who take part.
‘Plus they have to think about the safety of the huge crew required to make the programme — and South Africa and Australia are far more stable than Costa Rica.’
Daily Mail has contacted Netflix for comment.
Host Holly, 44, made her TV comeback on Bear Hunt after stepping down from This Morning and previously told how she felt ‘safe’ filming in the remote jungle.
‘It was just quite nice to be immersed in that and being away from everything, being that much in the jungle, in nature, where your phone doesn’t work and being disconnected from stuff,’ she said.
‘And actually, in some ways, it felt safer being there than it did being back here.’
Holly’s TV comeback came after a difficult few months in which it emerged she was the target of a terrifying kidnap and murder plot.
Security guard Gavin Plumb had plotted to ambush the presenter at her London home in the dead of night, using chloroform to knock out Holly and her husband Dan Baldwin.
The Netflix series saw 12 celebrities battle it out in the Costa Rican jungle as they took on gruelling challenges while living in close quarters, before being hunted down by Bear
In his twisted plan, he would have taken Holly captive, holding her in an isolated ‘dungeon’ before slitting her throat and murdering her.
In July 2024, Gavin Plumb was found guilty of the vile plot and handed concurrent life sentences with a minimum term of 16 years for each of his three offences.
After the challenging time, Holly was determined hosting Bear Hunt would be her way back to normality, with the call coming in before Plumb was found guilty.
‘It felt like the right time for me,’ she told the Daily Mail at Netflix’s launch for Bear Hunt.
‘When Bear called and described the premise of the show, I was like, ‘Okay, well, it sounds great. It also sounds like a show that my kids would love – they love Bear – so it was a bit of a no-brainer.
‘For a long time, I think because my kids were younger, I didn’t like leaving the country for so long.
‘Even when I went out to Australia for I’m A Celeb, the kids came with me. It just felt like a really exciting project. This was definitely a ”yes” on a spot.’
She filmed in Costa Rice for a month without her television producer husband Dan Baldwin, 50, or her children – Harry, 16, Belle, 13 and Chester, ten.
Holly previously told how the offer to appear on Bear Hunt came at the ‘perfect time’ after a challenging time where she quit This Morning and was the target of a murder plot
The Netflix series saw 12 celebrities battle it out in the Costa Rican jungle as they took on gruelling challenges while living in close quarters.
Celebrities were forced to go to the Bear Pit, a purpose-built escape room where they were hunted by Bear Grylls, with the loser facing elimination from the show.
Filming of the show was so intense that Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen, 59, nearly died during a freak raft accident.
He was dragged underwater for several heart-stopping moments after getting entangled in a bungee rope before being pulled to safety.
The drama also saw Lottie Moss, 27, break down in tears while opening up on her failed rehab stint for substance abuse and depression.
The former OnlyFans creator candidly told her co-stars that her 2022 stay ‘didn’t work’ and that she was about to go into rehab again before starting the show.
Also making up the cast were Spice Girl Mel B, Strictly Come Dancing judge Shirley Ballas, chef Big Zuu, tennis star Boris Becker, actor Joe Thomas and rugby union star Danny Cipriani.
Actor Kola Bokinni, presenter Steph McGovern, model Leomie Anderson and The Saturdays star Una Healy also took part in the eight-part series.
