Netflix was wrong to ditch Celebrity Bear Hunt – but Holly Willoughby's pointless role needed to be axed

Scottish Sun

3 days ago

HE'S the most famous survival expert in the world - but even Bear Grylls couldn't save his latest show from Netflix's killer blow.
The big budget reality series that saw Bear, 50, partnered with glam assistant Holly Willoughby, 44, has been axed after just one series despite being a hit with fans.
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Netflix axed Celebrity Bear Hunt after just one series
Credit: PA
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Holly Willoughby wasn't utilised properly and cost a whopping £1m
Credit: PA
Netflix is getting a nasty reputation for being trigger happy when it comes to prematurely culling shows after their debut run.
Sometimes that brutal streak is justified; there's no shortage of utter tosh on streaming platforms, but in this case, they've made a massive mistake.
I'm yet to hear from anyone who didn't enjoy watching Bear Hunt's crazy escapades from Laurence Llewellyn-Bowen casually taking a leak as Bear crept up on him to poor Steph McGovern smashing face first into a cliff during an adrenaline-fuelled challenge.
It was popular with all ages; my son, seven, among those devastated by its untimely demise, but ultimately money talked and Netflix decided it wasn't getting enough bang for its buck.
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That's fair enough, no business wants to throw money away for fun, especially when Bear Hunt is said to have cost £10m to make, but from the outside looking in there are a number of ways to save a lot of cash while maintaining the brilliant concept.
First up, Holly Willoughby. She was paid a reported £1m to effectively be nothing more than the series' eye-candy.
Holly's star power was undeniable through the noughties as she became the undisputed queen of daytime TV and primetime evening entertainment shows.
She also had naughty streak that saw her equally at home on the Celebrity Juice panel cracking crude jokes.
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To make her even more appealing, she'd already hosted the biggest survival show out there: I'm A Celebrity.
She expertly stepped in when Ant McPartlin's battle with alcohol forced him to take a break to focus on his wellbeing.
Bear Grylls abseils into Celebrity Bear Hunt premiere
Slipping into Ant's shoes and attempting to replicate his impeccable banter with best pal Declan Donnelly was a task tougher than most Bushtucker Trials, but Holly deserved a bag of gold stars as her ability in front of camera shone through.
When it was announced she was swapping ITV for Netflix following a torrid time at the channel, there was a clamour to see how she'd make her mark on the platform.
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Would she bounce back from her bitter fall out with former co-star Phillip Schofield as well as the extended break she took following a terrifying kidnap plot with a career-defining new show, or would she fail to reach past heights?
The answer was a resounding disappointment. With minimal screen time and no real purpose, she became a jungle Jane without any bite.
That's not Holly's fault, she obviously worked to the direction she was given, but it felt like a step back for a woman who'd made her way to the top of the TV game in the UK.
It did her a disservice and took away an opportunity from aspiring presenters who would leap at the chance to smile and look pretty in such a big show for a fraction of Holly's seven-figure payday.
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Twelve celebs flew to Costa Rica to take part
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The beachside accommodation was stunning
Credit: PA
There are no shortage of excuses show's bosses could have given to spare Holly's, and their own, blushes as she quietly stepped away. Scheduling clashes, family responsibilities, take your pick.
Then there's the location. The Costa Rican jungle and coastline certainly looked exotic and created a feeling of great adventure.
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But the reality is it was totally unnecessary.
The Bear Pit itself, the natural arena in which Bear hunted his celeb prey, could have been replicated in a British woodland.
In fact, hosting on home soil would give the programme a gritty edge not too dissimilar from early series' of Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins set in remote Scottish terrain, which would add to the sense of peril.
Let's face it, flying 12 celebrities to the other side of the world, putting them up in a luxurious cabin and then insuring them for the privilege was always going to be a hell of a bill, not to mention the thousands they had to splash out to lure the big names in the first place.
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A source told us: 'Everyone involved with Bear Hunt is absolutely gutted - they loved the format, and it actually hit its targets from the streaming side."
If that's the case, why not fight tooth an nail to save it? The hard work in creating a fresh new format and building a loyal audience has been done.
Show talisman Bear's mantra is 'never give up', it's a shame Netflix didn't show the same fighting spirit.
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Bear lived up to his action man reputation
Credit: PA
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Holly looked the part but had very little to actually do
Credit: PA