What happened to Holly Willoughby? ‘Kidnap plot’ explained
HOLLY Willoughby was pulled out of presenting This Morning after detectives smashed a suspected plot to kidnap the popular TV host.
A 36-year-old man was arrested and has now been charged by police - with the ITV star, 42, put under police guard.
What happened to Holly Willoughby?
Holly pulled out of hosting This Morning on October 5 and was under police guard at her home.
A 36-year-old man was arrested on October 4.
Police said a man had been accused of soliciting to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap.
It came after a police car was seen outside a ground-floor flat in Harlow, Essex.
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As detectives continued to investigate, a round-the-clock police guard was posted outside Holly's London home, where she lives with her husband and children.
What are police saying?
Police alerted This Morning bosses to the alleged plot and Holly was informed shortly before she was due on air.
On Friday morning, police confirmed Gavin Plumb has been charged with soliciting to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap.
He appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court on October 6.
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The 36-year-old is accused of contacting a 'hitman' in the US and allegedly making a "restraint kit" as part of an alleged plan to snatch the TV star.
It is claimed Plumb was in possession of "weapons" and had contacted a hitman based in America to carry out the "detailed plan".
According to the charges, he allegedly “solicited, encouraged, persuaded, endeavoured to persuade, or proposed” to murder Holly.
It is also said Plumb encouraged the US-based man to travel to the UK and had “assembled a kidnap and restraint kit capable of encouraging or assisting the commission of the kidnap of Holly Willoughby”.
He remanded into custody to next appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on November 3.
Superintendent Tim Tubbs of Essex Police said “This was an extremely fast paced investigation, with many of our officers and national partners working overnight to secure these charges.
“The safeguarding of any victim is paramount and we will continue to prioritise this as the investigation proceeds.”
Who hosted This Morning on October 5?
Holly was left "shocked and distraught" and it was decided she should pull out of the show.
Alison Hammond was drafted in as a last-minute replacement alongside Jodie Gibson, leaving viewers bewildered.
One viewer tweeted a message saying: "No Holly today?! Devastated."
Another added: "Not even a mention of why she’s not on today?!"
On the show, Josie skirted round Holly's absence, saying: "Look who's joined me. It's only the one and only Alison Hammond."
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Alison replied: "Oh, Josie! I hope you don't mind, I got a bit jealous.
"I saw you and Holly and you were talking about being blonde and I thought 'I'm going to shake this up a bit. I'm getting in there. Is that OK? You don't mind?"
