Lee Mack has revealed the real reason Holly Willoughby’s ice challenge show Freeze The Fear was axed after it received a frosty reception.
The series, hosted by Holly, 42, and Lee, 55, saw eight celebrities embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure under the training of extreme athlete Wim Hof, 64.
However it was revealed last month that the show would not be returning, and now Lee has revealed it is because the programme was boring.
Speaking to The Sun, the comedian said: ‘Celebs in cold water did not make as exciting television as they thought.’
The likes of Strictly Come Dancing professional Dianne Buswell, actress Tamzin Outhwaite, and former gymnast Gabby Logan took part in the first series back in 2022.
Lee Mack has revealed the REAL reason Holly Willoughby’s show Freeze The Fear was axed earlier this month
Speaking to The Sun, the comedian revealed it was because the show was boring, as he explained: ‘Celebs in cold water did not make as exciting television as they thought’
However while it won’t be returning, Lee admitted: ‘I liked it. I was booked to be the cynical comic.’
Holly made her return to ITV in January, hosting the new series of Dancing On Ice alongside Stephen Mulhern.
The role sees her return to the channel for the first time since she quit the show last October after an alleged kidnap and murder plot.I
It was revealed last month that Freeze The Fear wouldn’t be returning as 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.
‘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.’
The likes of Strictly Come Dancing professional Dianne Buswell, actress Tamzin Outhwaite (centre), and former gymnast Gabby Logan took part in the first series
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 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
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.
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.
Holly made her return to ITV in January, hosting the new series of Dancing On Ice alongside Stephen Mulhern
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’
Each week celebrities took 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.
‘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.’
