Celebrity Juice bosses holding crunch talks about future of ITV2 show after Holly Willoughby quit
CELEBRITY Juice bosses are said to be 'holding crunch talks' over the future of the ITV show after the departure of star Holly Willoughby.
The 39-year-old announced that she was leaving the comedy panel series at the beginning of May following 12 years as captain.
With Holly and also former captain Fearne Cotton now gone from the show, host Keith remains as the only original member.
And according to the , the series is reportedly "facing the axe" as the broadcaster weighs up whether or not the ITV2 series should continue at all.
Speaking to the newspaper, Keith said: "Everyone's saying we'll definitely continue but we've got to get it right, haven't we?"
The Sun Online have contacted ITV for comment.
Earlier this month, the entertainer, 47, said ITV bosses were having a lot of "meetings" following Holly's departure from the comedy panel show after 12 years.
Speaking to Hello! Let's Gab on Instagram, the comedian said: "Everyone keeps asking me who the new captain is but I don't know what the future of Celebrity Juice is at the moment, it's a lot of meetings."
Gaby Roslin asked: "Oh, but it's going to come back, isn't it?"
Keith dodged the question, saying after a pause: "It's a lot of meetings. I'm probably supposed to say it's meant to come back, lead with positive words but we've got to get it right, the next phase has to be right I guess."
The TV star also addressed Holly and Fearne Cotton's departures, saying they left because they "grew up".
Of Holly's exit, Keith said: "It wasn't a surprise if I'm honest.
"She's so busy, she's doing This Morning, Dancing on Ice, a new show with Bradley Walsh and she has been doing Juice for 12 years and I think what happened is Holly and Fearne grew up, and I didn't."
He went on: "They have to go and do what they have to do as grownups but I still have fun on a Wednesday night filming Celebrity Juice."
Holly quit Celebrity Juice earlier this month, The Sun exclusively revealed, in order to spend more time with her husband Dan Baldwin and their three kids, Harry, ten, Belle, eight, and Chester, five.
A TV source said: “Holly has absolutely loved her time on the show — it’s been a huge part of her life, and has really helped to expand her fanbase over the years.
“But she feels now is the right time to bow out and wants to free up a bit more of her busy schedule to spend with her family."
It seems Holly, who helped launch the show in 2008, won't stay away for long though, as she promised she'll return for special occasions.
Keith later revealed that he also considered leaving the show after Holly broke the news.
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He said: "I was really sad and realised I was going to miss her. She rang me up. She never usually rings me so I thought she is going to tell me she’s pregnant.
"I said, ‘You’re going to tell me you’re leaving, aren’t you?’ and she said, ‘Yes, it’s been 12 great years but I want to spend time with the family’."
Holly’s decision to quit comes after pal and fellow panellist Fearne Cotton, 38, left the series in 2018 to focus on new projects.