Gavin Plumb, 36, charged with kidnap over ‘plot to abduct Holly Willoughby’
A MAN has been charged over an alleged plot to kidnap Holly Willoughby.
Gavin Plumb, 36, is accused of soliciting to commit murder, incitement to commit rape and incitement to commit kidnap.
He will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates Court today after he was held by officers on Wednesday.
Holly, 42, was forced to pull out of hosting This Morning yesterday and was replaced by Alison Hammond.
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.
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.
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”.