Gavin Plumb has been charged with soliciting to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap in relation to Holly Willoughby. Essex Police announced his arrest as part of an ongoing investigation, and Willoughby did not appear on Thursday’s This Morning show. She was said to be under police protection at her home on Thursday night. Plumb will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates Court later on Friday.
Essex police did not confirm whether Willoughby had been the target of the alleged plot, which was reported in The Sun. The newspaper revealed that police found “sinister messages” threatening to kidnap and seriously harm the celebrity, and that digital devices and a mobile phone were seized during the arrest. Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby stated, “The safeguarding of any victim is paramount and we will continue to prioritise this and work with the Metropolitan Police Service as the investigation proceeds.”
Holly Willoughby has presented This Morning since 2009 and recently faced significant challenges, including social media backlash when she was accused of “jumping” the queue for Queen’s lying-in-state. Her co-presenter Philip Schofield resigned amid rumours of increasingly strained relations, and allegations of toxic working cultures, bullying, discrimination and harassment emerged over the summer from a large number of current and former ITV employees working on daytime shows. The BBC contacted Willoughby’s agent and publicist to comment on the alleged kidnap plot, but they declined, directing all inquiries to the police.
This incident highlights the importance of safeguarding every individual regardless of their status in society. It also demonstrates the importance of an ongoing investigation to ensure the safety of those affected by a potential threat, even in situations where the details are yet to be revealed to the public. It will be essential to monitor future developments as the investigation unfolds
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