Full rumoured line-up for Holly Willoughby's Netflix show Bear Hunt

Holly Willoughby is set to host a new jungle-based Netflix show with Bear Grylls, and excitement is mounting.

The show is Willoughby’s first new TV project since leaving This Morning in October. With its seriously interesting premise, some big name stars are said to be circling the project, with the likes of Steph McGovern, Shirley Ballas and Mel B thought to be among the line-up.

Dropping next year and with the working title of Bear Hunt, the show will see the celebs sent into the Central American jungle and taught survival skills. In a twist, they will become “prey” for Grylls and will be hunted in what’s been described as a “brutal game of cat and mouse”.

So which celebs are taking it on? We have a look at the rumours so far.

Steph McGovern

Steph McGovern is the latest celeb to be linked to the show, with The Sun reporting that she has already flown out to the jungle.

The series would give the TV star a fresh challenge after the end of her talk show Steph’s Packed Lunch. The show started in 2020 amid the coronavirus lockdowns but in 2023 it was announced that it was coming to an end, with Channel 4 explaining that audience habits were "changing quicker than ever" and that "difficult decisions" had to be made.

In December it aired for the last time, and McGovern was tearful as she signed off. “I’m not going to waffle on because I can’t really say anything emotional without that really ugly crying," she told viewers. "But thank you for watching, thank you to everyone who has been on the show.”

McGovern has also shown she is up for a little reality TV, with a stint on The Masked Dancer under her belt.

Joe Thomas

Joe Thomas is likely to bring some humour to the situation if rumours he has sign up are true. The comedian and actor is best known for playing Simon Cooper in The Inbetweeners series and its spin-off films, racking up a huge fanbase for the hilarious role.

Since then he has popped up on the odd game show, like Taskmaster and Richard Osman's House Of Games and he has also been working on the big screen in films including The Festival and We Are Not Alone.

However, he hasn't been front and centre for a bit, and Bear Hunt may well be the show to change all that.

Shirley Ballas

Shirley Ballas is no slouch when it comes to taking on daring adventures. When she’s not perched on the Strictly Come Dancing judging panel, she’s taken on a fair few challenges like skydiving in aid of a suicide prevention charity and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief.

So will Bear Hunt be her next adventure? The dancer is one of the first stars to have been linked to the programme, with reports that she’s getting ready to head to Costa Rica for filming.

Adding fuel to the fire is the fact that Ballas just told fans she has had the all clear for cancer after undergoing tests.

She posted a message on Instagram saying: “Thank you to you all for your well wishes following my two mammograms, one ultrasound and three biopsies last week. I am feeling blessed to share that my results have come back all clear - there is no cancer present.”

With her health scare behind her, will Ballas take on Grylls?

Mel B

Mel B might have to rely on her “scary” side if rumours she is doing Bear Hunt are true. The Spice Girls singer – aka Scary Spice – is no shrinking violet but will she be a match for Grylls if she does up against him in the jungle?

So far she hasn’t commented on the chatter, but Mel has been linked to the series for days.

Watch: Holly Willoughby to host new Netflix series

Plus, she has history with Grylls, because back in 2016 Mel joined him on his Running Wild television series.

The episode of the show that she was in saw them tackling lots of challenging terrain together and, unforgettably, chart star Mel urinated on Grylls’ hand after he was stung by a jellyfish, which some people believe alleviates the pain.

Danny Cipriani

Danny Cipriani found fame as a rugby player which could give him a bit of an edge if he does end up pitted against Grylls in the jungle. It has been reported that he has already signed on the dotted line and that he is set to jet off to Costa Rica in the coming weeks.

The show could prove to be timely for Cipriani, as last year there were reports that he was actually in the frame to be on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! However, that series came and went without him making an appearance.

He does have other reality TV experience, having got his waltz on for the Strictly Come Dancing Christmas special 2023.

Boris Becker

According to the Mirror, former tennis pro Boris Becker is also in the running to join the Bear Hunt adventure in the Costa Rican jungle.

Becker rose to fame in the late 1980s and early 90s and enjoyed a successful career as one of the world's leading tennis players.

However, years later he was charged and ultimately jailed for tax evasion offences and eventually declared bankruptcy in 2017. After receiving a two-and-a-half-year sentence, Becker was released early in 2022.

Unnamed insiders have suggested that Becker's plans to join Bear Hunt form part of a larger goal of re-defining his image and later in life career. However, as with all of the rumours surrounding his show, nothing has been confirmed by Netflix.

Other names linked to show

Other celebs rumoured to be taking their chances in the Costa Rican jungle include former Saturdays star Una Healy and model and TV presenter Leomie Anderson. The Sun has already reported a titbit from location, saying that last week Anderson had a fright when she found a scorpion in the shower where she is staying.

Kola Bokinni, who is known for the TV series Ted Lasso, and rapper and TV personality Big Zuu are also thought to on the list. One of the latest names to be added is Lottie Moss, the younger half-sister of Kate Moss and an OnlyFans sensation.

One of the latest names in the mix is that of Changing Rooms star Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen. He previously suggested he wouldn't fancy the jungle when asked about doing I'm A Celebrity, telling OK! that "it's not me". Has Bear Hunt changed his mind?

Yahoo has contacted Netflix for comment.

Read more: Bear Hunt

• Everything we know about Holly Willoughby’s Netflix show Bear Hunt

• Netflix splashing out for Bear Hunt success