Man Charged In Plot To Murder ‘This Morning’ Presenter Holly Willoughby as ITV Star Remains Off The Air

A 36 year old man was charged on Friday with conspiracy to kidnap and murder ITV presenter Holly Willoughby.

Gary Plumb, from Harlow, will appear before Chelmsford Magistrates Court later today and has been charged with soliciting to commit murder, incitement to commit rape and incitement to commit kidnapping. He has been held in custody since his arrest on Wednesday.

Willoughby was absent from her usual This Morning slot on Thursday when it was revealed police intervened in an alleged plot and made one arrest.

In a statement on Friday morning Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby of Essex police force 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 and working with the Metropolitan Police Service as the investigation proceeds.”

Viewers first noticed that something may be up with the unexplained appearance of Alison Hammond as a substitute for Willoughby to co-host with Josie Gibson on Thursday’s show.

Neither presenter made mention of Willoughby’s absence during the broadcast nor provided an explanation, leading many viewers to wonder about the sudden change. Reports suggest that This Morning producers were informed of a potential threat before the broadcast started, resulting in the decision for Willoughby to skip the day’s show and remain under police guard at her London home.

The Sun reports, through an unnamed source, that Plumb is not known to Willoughby and that the police found “sinister and threatening messages […] on electronic devices threatening to seriously harm her.”