Holly Willoughby taking time off This Morning to focus on new BBC project

Holly Willoughby is reportedly taking time off This Morning in order to work as a presenter for a new BBC celebrity competition show with comedian Lee Mack.

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have been co-presenters of the ITV show This Morning since 2009 and have become a solid fixture of British breakfast television.

Although neither of the hosts has suggested they might be heading for greener pastures, Holly Willoughby will soon be taking two and a half weeks off the ITV show so she can work for ITV's main competitor. 

Holly will be co-presenting a new BBC competition with comedian Lee Mack titled, Wim Hof’s Superstar Survival. The show will begin filming very shortly meaning that Holly will be flying to Southern Europe on January 17, which is just a day after Dancing on Ice will make its long-awaited return to our screens. 

This ITV competition is set to be presented by Holly and Phil and will mark their last collaboration before her half-month hiatus. 

An insider told The Sun that hosting I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here in 2018, allowed Holly to pursue other presenting gigs and encouraged the star to look outside of the ITV to further her career.

“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," said the insider.

“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."

The source added, “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.”

ITV recently agreed to increase Holly's This Morning salary, which means that the star now reportedly earns £730,000 a year for her four-day-a-week role. It has also been estimated that she will earn £100,000 for presenting this new BBC survival show.

Despite this enviable salary, Susanna Reid has overtaken Holly Willoughby as the highest-paid woman on British TV.

Holly has transformed from a TV presenter to a national style icon, but some are dubious about her ability to host this high-octane competition that will make I'm a Celebrity look like a walk in the park.

Although Holly enjoyed hosting I'm a Celebrity, Holly was blamed for turning I'm A Celebrity into a 'soft' show, as it was suggested that she helped the contestants complete tasks in the show.

Wim Hof’s Superstar Survival will be a tougher challenge for the celebrity contestants whose mental and physical agility will be put to the test on this show. The celebs will take on challenges in Europe's harshest and wildest conditions as they try to combat their innermost struggles such as insomnia and anxiety.

Following the announcement of the show, Holly said, "I can’t wait to team up with Lee and Wim on this show." She added that her co-presenter is one of her family's favorite comedians and she is particularly looking forward to working with him. 

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

Wim Hof (aka the Iceman) also commented on this upcoming project. "I’ve dedicated my life to discovering how to become happier, healthier and stronger, and anything I can do, you can do too. It’s a dream come true to be making this show with the BBC and share what I’ve learnt with millions of people," said the extreme athlete.

"I am going to show this group of celebrities that the cold is a doorway to their soul and if they use the power of their mind anything is possible."

The show is set to air later in 2022 on BBC One, but an exact date has yet to be confirmed.