Holly Willougby court case: what happens next as Gavin Plumb is remanded in custody?

With Holly Willoughby confirming on social media that she will be stepping away from her role on ‘This Morning’ earlier this week, the attention once again focuses on 36-year-old Gavin Plumb, who was charged over “soliciting to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap” last Friday (October 6 2023) at Chelmsford magistrates court.

The charges come after Essex Police made an arrest on Wednesday October 4 2023, with Plumb, a father-of-two, accused of plotting online with a man in the United States of America earlier this week to commit crimes against the TV star. According to the charges, he is accused of having “solicited, encouraged, persuaded, endeavoured to persuade, or proposed” the murder of Ms Willoughby.

Additionally, Plumb is said to have encouraged the other individual to travel to the UK to carry out a kidnap plot and had "assembled a kidnap and restraint kit capable of encouraging or assisting the commission of the kidnap of Holly Willoughby".

During his appearance on Friday,  Plumb confirmed his name, date of birth, and address, and mentioned that he has been working as a security guard in Harlow. The prosecution described the case as a "detailed plan" to kidnap and murder Holly Willoughby, alleging that he conspired with another person to commit these offences.

Plumb has been remanded in jail until his next court appearance on November 3 2023 at Chelmsford Crown Court, where a plea hearing will occur regarding his charges, in the meantime discussing with his solicitors his best course of action. 

No news currently if Willoughby will be in attendance at any stage in the courtroom setting, though Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby from Essex and Kent Serious Crime Directorate said: “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.”