Holly Willoughby ‘kidnap plot’: Gavin Plumb, 36, charged with planning to kidnap and murder This Morning star
A MAN has been charged over an alleged plot to kidnap and murder Holly Willoughby.
Gavin Plumb, 36, is accused of soliciting to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap.
He will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates Court today after he was held by officers on Wednesday.
Superintendent Tim Tubbs 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.”
Holly, 42, was forced to pull out of hosting This Morning yesterday and was replaced by Alison Hammond.
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She was under police guard at the home she shares with her husband Dan Baldwin after the alleged plot was smashed.
Police alerted This Morning bosses to the alleged plot early on Thursday, with Holly informed shortly before she was due on air.
She was left “shocked and distraught” and it was decided she should pull out of the show.
Alison Hammond was called in as a last- minute replacement alongside Josie Gibson, who co-hosted Wednesday’s show with Holly.
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Viewers were left baffled as Josie skirted round her absence, saying: “Look who’s joined me.
“It’s only the one and only Alison Hammond.”
Alison then joked about being “jealous” of her and Holly.
One fan posted: “No Holly today?! Devastated.”
Another added: “Not even a mention of why she’s not on today?!”
Holly had been due to celebrate her TV producer husband Daniel Baldwin’s 49th birthday with their children, Harry, 14, Belle, 12, and eight-year-old Chester.
The incident comes after a turbulent year for the star, who has presented This Morning since 2009.
Last September, she and then co-host Phillip Schofield were accused of skipping the queue to pay their respects to the late Queen.
She later issued a statement explaining she had been there as an accredited broadcaster for a filmed segment.
Holly added: “Please know that we would never jump a queue.”
This May, Phillip Schofield, 61, resigned after he admitted an affair with a younger colleague.
Schofield also revealed he had lied about it when confronted by Holly.
She later told viewers she had felt “shaken and let down”.
ITV launched a review into This Morning amid claims of a “toxic culture”, leading to a backlash from viewers.
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Last month, Holly failed to win a National Television Award for the first time in 12 years.
