Holly Willoughby is reportedly in crisis talks with ITV over her future on This Morning.
The presenter, 40, is currently embroiled in a legal row with her old management firm YMU, which means they could take a cut of her future earnings.
It’s been claimed that Holly has told ITV Daytime that she would rather step down from This Morning than allow her former management – who she was with for 13 years – to take £200,000 from her new contract.
An insider told The Sun that the disagreement in not about money, but is purely about ‘the principle’ of what is happening.
The source claimed that the issue surrounds Holly’s future earnings now that her former management are no longer involved in negotiations, adding that YMU are ‘trying to handcuff her for years to come. It’s just not right.’
The insider pointed out that Holly left YMU and set up her own firm, Roxy Management, in order to ‘take back control’ of her future.
Of Holly’s current predicament, the source told the publication: ‘She loves This Morning, and really doesn’t want to leave. She is committed to the show, but has been given no choice but to discuss her options moving forwards.
‘She wants to stand up for women, and won’t roll over when it comes to unfair renegotiations.
‘She has spoken to ITV execs and explained the situation – in essence, she said she’d rather leave the show than let YMU take such a high percentage of her earnings, when they aren’t entitled to it.’
The insider pointed out that Holly ‘obviously’ adores Phillip Schofield and that ITV are ‘pulling out all the stops’ to try and resolve the crisis as amicably as possible and to stop her from leaving This Morning.
MailOnline has contacted ITV and Holly Willoughby’s representatives for comment.
In February it was reported that Holly was gearing up for a legal fight with her old agents in a row that could cost £10million, insiders claim.
The This Morning presenter hired lawyers to take action against the YMU Group after they demanded a percentage of her future earnings, reports suggested.
Holly formed her own all-female agency called Roxy last year – and is now managing herself.
But former-agent YMU is said to be demanding sunset provisions – believed to be around 15 per cent – from the TV star.
These are commissions collected by agents from a star who is no longer on their roster, meaning YMU could get a cut from Holly’s appearances on Dancing On Ice and This Morning going forward.
Holly is said to be willing to pay YMU commissions on jobs arranged while she was with them, but not if those contracts are renewed, The Sun reported.
The mother-of-three has been told she could be forced to pay YMU some £10,000 should their bid be successful.
The presenter has hired a team of lawyers – who she met in February – to ensure that does not happen.
A source told The Sun at the time: ‘No one wanted this to go legal but Holly won’t simply give away her hard-fought millions without a fight.’
They added: ‘This is a sad finale to what was once a hugely successful partnership.
‘But YMU seem unhappy she’s set up on her own and feel entitled to maximise a sunset provision to claim commission on the renewal of contracts.’
Going it alone: Holly formed her own all-female agency called Roxy Management last year – and is now managing herself
YMU – who were previously known as James Grant – have a number of big name stars on the books including Ant and Dec, Graham Norton, Claudia Winkleman and Holly’s This Morning co-star Phillip Schofield.
It was reported that Holly left YMU back in August and was said to have made plans to manage herself within an all-female team once she left the agency.
A source told the publication last year: ‘Lockdown has given her time to reflect and think about her future. In many ways, it has become the perfect opportunity to start afresh and it was just time for a change.
‘She is really excited about managing herself and having more say over decisions on a day-to-day basis. She has always had such incredible business sense and is proud to be a working mum and career woman.’
The insider went on to say that Holly’s career decision was the ‘logical next step’ after she hoped to develop a ‘better work-life balance.’
Prepared to fight: Holly Willoughby (pictured) is gearing up for a legal fight with her old agents in a row that could cost £10million, insiders claim