Holly Willoughby – live: Security guard appears in court over alleged kidnap plot SuperNayr

Gavin Plumb, of Potters Field, Essex, is also accused of incitement to commit kidnap. The 36-year-old, who is a security officer at a shopping precinct in the town, appeared in Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court.

Mr Plumb was remanded in custody to appear for a plea hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on 3 November.

Holly Willougby has faced a rocky few months after the revelation her co-host Phillip Schofield had an affair with a younger employee.

Schofield, 61, admitted to the BBC he had lied to colleagues and his agent about the relationship after he stepped down from his This Morning presenting role in May.

“The last time we had a conversation was when I texted Holly and said, ‘Don’t reply’ – this was after the statement last week – ‘Don’t reply, you’re probably not allowed to, but I am deeply deeply sorry that I lied to you,’” he said to the BBC.

He also told The Sun that the affair “was the one secret in our sanctuary that was never mentioned”, adding that he has “lost my best friend”.

Holly Willoughby faced a backlash from fans who accused her of knowing about the affair all along, leading her to make two public statements regarding the scandal.

On Saturday (28 May), one day after Schofield shared his statement, Willoughby wrote on Instagram that it had “taken time to process [the] news.”

“When reports of this relationship first surfaced, I asked Phil directly if this was true and was told it was not. It’s been very hurtful to now find out that this was a lie,” she said.

Willoughby, 42, was left “shocked and distraught” after learning she was allegedly the subject of “sinister” messages threatening to kidnap and harm her.

Read all the supportive statements here

A shopping centre security officer has been remanded in custody over an alleged plot to kidnap and murder This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby.

Gavin Plumb is charged with soliciting a man named David Nelson to commit murder, and incitement to commit kidnap between October 2 and 5 in Harlow, Essex.

The charges indicate the defendant is accused of planning to assemble a “kidnap and restraint kit” and encouraging a third party to travel to the UK to carry out the alleged offences.

The 36-year-old appeared in the dock at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court in a green T-shirt with the slogan “Aged to Perfection” on Friday, where he spoke only to confirm his name, date of birth, address and where he worked.

The court heard Plumb is alleged to have conspired online with another man and created a “detailed plan” to carry out the offences.The other man was due to arrive in the UK next week from the US, the court heard.

Plumb, from Harlow, was remanded into custody by District Judge Caroline Jackson until a plea hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on November 3.

The Independent has contacted Willoughby’s representatives for comment.

An Essex Police spokesman told The Independent: “A 36-year-old man from Harlow has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap as part of an ongoing investigation.

Read the full article by Roisin O’Connor here

The British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sent well wishes to Holly Willoughby on This Morning.

Before addressing the Tory conference and proposed policies, he sent a supportive message to the ITV star.

He said: “I’m so sorry to hear everything going on with Holly, I just want to send my best to her and her family.”

Gavin Plumb, 36, is accused of soliciting to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap. He is set to appear at Chelmsford Magistrates Court today after being arrested by officers on Wednesday 4 October.

Willoughby, 42, was left “shocked and distraught” after learning she was allegedly the subject of “sinister” messages threatening to kidnap and harm her.

Read the full story by Roisin O’Connor here