UK morning show host Holly Willoughby has now announced that she’s quit This Morning after 14 years due to an alleged plot to kidnap and murder her.
“I have let ITV know today that after 14 years, I will not be returning to This Morning. To everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years, thank you so so much,” she shared on Instagram.
“This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we’ve done together. I will not be returning to This Morning.
“Thank you to everyone at ITV for being supportive. To every guest who has sat on our sofa, thank you.
“Most of all, thank you to the wonderful viewers. You’ve been so loyal so supportive and the very best company every day.
“Richard and Judy said ‘we only look after this show, it will always belong to the viewers’.
“It’s been an honour to just be part of its story and I know this story has many chapters left to go.
“Sadly, however, I now feel I have to make this decision for me and my family. I will miss you all so much. Holly.”
42-year-old Willoughby is the host of popular British morning show This Morning as well as Dancing on Ice. She has been off the air since Thursday.
Gavin Plumb, who works as a shopping centre security guard, has been arrested on suspicion of “soliciting, encouraging, persuading, endeavouring to persuade or proposing to a third party,” the court heard per the BBC.
The third party is allegedly a man by the name of David Nelson who Plumb, “encouraged that third party to travel to the UK to carry out the plan” and was “assembling a kidnap and restraint kit, capable of encouraging or assisting the commission of the kidnap,” according to prosecutors.
“Investigations are continuing but police are treating this as a credible conspiracy to kidnap Holly,” said one source, according to news.com.au.
“There were apparently some sinister and threatening messages found on electronic devices threatening to seriously harm her.”
The Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court, located approximately 60kms from London, heard that Nelson was scheduled to arrive in the UK next week.
“This news has come as a huge shock to everyone at This Morning and ITV,” an ITV spokesperson said per the ABC.
“We are providing all of the support we can to Holly and her family at this incredibly distressing time.”
ITV-funded security as well as police have been stationed at Willoughby’s family home.
Rob Kirby of Essex Police 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.”
It follows a turbulent year for Willoughby who just recently had to deal with the fallout of her now-former longtime co-host Phillip Schofield who had an affair with a younger staffer.
Header image by Tim P. Whitby/Getty Images
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