NETFLIX may quit Costa Rica for the second series of Holly Willoughby’s Celebrity Bear Hunt show amid drug gang fears.
Narco criminals kill and hijack hundreds of people a year in the Central American country, so the streamer is considering a shift to South Africa or Australia.
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Netflix may move Celebrity Bear Hunt from Costa Rica to South Africa or Australia due to safety concerns over drug gang violenceCredit: PA
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TV bosses are concerned over the safety of stars Bear Grylls and Holly WilloughbyCredit: hollywilloughby/Instagram
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Heavily armed narco gangs operate in the area where filming takes place
Holly, 44, was the target of a kidnap and murder plot in 2023, but still signed up for the show alongside survival expert Bear Grylls, 50.
The first series launched earlier this month and shot straight to the top of the Netflix chart.
Now the sequel run is earmarked to start filming this autumn.
A TV insider said: “The reception to Celebrity Bear Hunt has been favourable, so the streamer wanted to make the most of its popularity.
“There’s a huge amount of planning involved in producing such a huge show.
“That’s not to mention the logistics and safety measures that have to be put in place to look after the welfare of Holly, Bear and the dozen celebrities who take part.
“Plus they have to think about the safety of the huge crew required to make the programme — and South Africa and Australia are far more stable than Costa Rica.”
The country has fast become a refuge for drugs gangs in the region.
Its murder rate rose by over 41 per cent to 17.2 per 100,000 people between 2022 and 2023.
That compares to one per 100,000 in Britain.
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Talking about shooting in the rainforest versus the UK in the run up to Celebrity Bear Hunt launching, Holly said: “In some ways, it felt safer being there than it did being back here.”
But that may have been because she was with former SAS soldier Bear.
She had just recently been targeted by security guard Gavin Plumb, 37, who was jailed for life with a 16-year minimum term last year for plotting her k!dnap.
But it is not just the drugs gangs which pose a threat in Costa Rica.
The wild country has particularly dangerous wildlife, including crocodiles in the rivers and sea, sharks, and some of the most poisonous snakes and spiders in the vast jungles.
In the current series, Spice Girl Mel B was stalked by a croc, but did not even realise until she watched footage of the show.
Netflix declined to comment on the move.
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Holly, with co-host Bear, was targeted by security guard Gavin PlumbCredit: Getty
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Gavin Plumb has been jailed over his vile plot to k!dnap HollyCredit: PA
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