Holly Willoughby gears up for bitter legal battle over money with her old talent agency

HOLLY Willoughby is gearing up for a legal battle with her old management agency in a bitter war over money.

The This Morning star, 39, is furious with YMU — which represents stars including Ant and Dec, Phillip Schofield and Claudia Winkleman — after it allegedly tried to claim 15 per cent of her future earnings, despite Holly recently launching her own agency, Roxy.

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Holly Willoughby is preparing for a legal battle with her former management agency[/caption]

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The This Morning host is furious that YMU want to claim 15 per cent of her future earnings[/caption]

The presenter is understood to have the support of many celebrities who feel she should not be paying out for jobs she has secured herself.

Tonight a source said: “Holly is a strong, savvy, very successful woman working in a tough industry — she won’t be taken for a fool.

“It’s a real shame how things have turned out, as she was incredibly loyal to YMU for many years, but now they are demanding commission on future earnings. It is madness.

“She never actually signed a binding contract with them — and they have not signed up to the professional body called PMA which represents actors and agencies — so she does not understand why she should pay them for jobs she secured.

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Holly quit YMU, who also represent Phillip Schofield, after 13 years[/caption]

“Holly set Roxy up with an all-female team. She is all about empowerment, and even if this goes legal she will not roll over on the matter.”

Last month, the Sun on Sunday revealed the star, who co-hosted Dancing on Ice, was quitting YMU after 13 years.

A spokeswoman for Holly declined to comment.

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YMU also work with Claudia Winkleman and Ant and Dec[/caption]

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