Holly's 'marriage pact' to overhaul her career

After a tough year, Holly Willoughby is said to be taking her career in a new direction, and hubby Dan is on board with the move away from mainstream TV

- Kenzi Devine

Six months after stepping down from This Morning, Holly Willoughby is making an effort to overhaul her career with the support of husband Dan Baldwin. And she’s already put the wheels in motion by signing up to host Netflix show Bear Hunt with Bear Grylls.

It’s a far cry from her usual daytime TV image – and a source tells us it’s part of a “marriage pact” to distance herself from the sort of jobs she’s typically known for.

While Dan, who produced the recent reboot of Gladiators, has hinted at a new version of classic dating series Blind Date, he has touted Claudia Winkleman as a potential host, rather than his wife. And according to the source, this is a deliberate move to show “a different side” to Holly, 43.

“When Holly’s husband Dan admitted he wants to do a Blind Date remake, everyone thought it would be Holly fronting the show. But the fact that he has eyed up Claudia Winkleman for it just goes to show that Holly is really trying to distance herself from the TV she’s been associated with for so long,” the source said.

Discussing a possible Blind Date return, Dan, 48, recently said, “As well as coming up with new ideas, we’ve always got one eye on what could come back and what could be a hit like Gladiators is.