How streaming services are poaching some of Britain's biggest TV stars

Streaming services are securing some of Britain's biggest TV stars.

Netflix and Prime Video are giants in the streaming world and we are seeing more and more of our favourite TV stars joining forces with them for new shows. Big names joining shows on streaming services include Jeremy Clarkson, Holly Willoughby, Amanda Holden, Rylan and more.

Jamie Oliver is the latest TV star rumoured to join Netflix. It's reported he will be making his debut on Netflix on Chef's Table, where the most renowned chefs in the world share their deeply personal stories and styles. It will be a huge change for the Naked Chef who has spent two decades on Channel 4 after his "golden handcuffs" agreement with the channel came to an end two years ago.

So what is attracting some of our telly favourites to the streaming services? Entertainment and TV expert for Press Box PR, Lynn Carratt, lifted the lid on why streaming services are able to secure the big stars.

"Terrestrial TV stars are making the move to streaming platforms," she told Yahoo. "These days, presenters are finding fewer golden handcuff deals with terrestrial TV channels, and they have to weigh up their options with different TV networks and streaming services. And, streaming services often have big money deals to offer.

"Joining a streaming service has become a key step for TV stars to expand their reach beyond UK audiences. Viewership has shifted towards platforms like Netflix, Amazon, and Paramount, and it offers a ready-made global audience. This presents presenters with the perfect opportunity to gain a new fan base outside of the UK, potentially opening up new opportunities in countries like the US.

"Therefore TV stars are moving towards streaming services to further their career, gain wider appeal with global audiences and often earn more money."

Jeremy Clarkson

Clarkson was fired from BBC's Top Gear when he punched the show's producer Oisin Tymon in 2015. Richard Hammond and James May stuck by their friend by quitting the show at the same time saying: "We come as a package."

True to their word, the trio took their love of cars to streaming service Prime Video in 2016 to front new show The Grand Tour. It went onto become a huge success over the past eight years. The final episode with the three friends which was filmed in Zimbabwe will air this September.

PR expert Carratt said of the move: "I remember at the time thinking it was a brave move, but look how it has turned out. It has given his career more longevity and he appears to have more creative control over the shows he hosts."

Clarkson has gone onto present Clarkson's Farm with Prime Video which was an instant hit. Season three broke Amazon Prime UK's records when the first part dropped on the streaming service this year.

Clarkson revealed why he thinks it's been so successful. He said: "Farming on television has been portrayed in the past as fresh straw, fluffy lambs, agreeable calves: a bit like Babe. I had it in my head before we ever started the farm that farming wasn't like that – that it was much dirtier and harder, and I always wanted to show it like it actually is."

Read more: What to expect from Clarkson's Farm season 4 after filming delay

Holly Willoughby

It was a big talking point when Willoughby had landed a big gig with Netflix. While she remains on ITV's Dancing on Ice reality series, she quit This Morning in October last year. She became a household name with her role on This Morning four days a week alongside Phillip Schofield. However, the presenter quit when she was the centre of an alleged kidnap and murder plot.

Having been the darling of ITV's daytime TV for so long, everyone couldn't wait to see what Willoughby would do next. Now we know she will take on the presenting role on Bear Hunt with Bear Grylls. Reports claimed she would be paid as much as one million pounds.

PR expert Carratt said: "By moving over to Netflix Holly will bank more money for less work."

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

Amanda Holden

Holden works across both BBC and ITV. In recent weeks, she was on our screens for ITV on Simon Cowell's judging panel for Britain's Got Talent. And in April, it was announced she would return to BBC for another series with her long-time pal Alan Carr for Amanda & Alan's Spanish Job with the pair having had two successful series in Italy renovating properties.

At the moment though, Holden is out in Mallorca filming at a villa similar to Love Island for her new Netflix reality series Cheaters: Unfinished Business, where eight couples are reunited to confront each other after their relationship broke down after cheating. The reality series is unscripted and the couples signed up will have the chance to forgive or forget after signing up to the process where they will get advice from experts along the way.

Holden said of her new project: "Sometimes dreams really do come true. All my career I always wanted to host a show about love and relationships - and this is it!! A series about second chances and unfinished business! I can’t wait, along with our expert, to meet and help these couples work out whether they can forgive and forget. I’m absolutely thrilled to be part of it!"