For Holly Willoughby, this summer will no doubt offer some respite from an emotionally gruelling chapter. The presenter has been flying under the radar for several months now, but breathed a sigh of relief on 4 July, when Gavin Plumb – the security guard accused of plotting to kidnap, rape and murder her – was found guilty on all three charges following a trial at Chelmsford Crown Court.
The terrifying ordeal has loomed over Holly since October, when news of the kidnap plot first came to light, and we’re told, “She felt she couldn’t really move on from everything until this trial was over and now it is, there is such a relief. She’s never taking anything for granted again and knows what’s important. This summer is all about her family and taking time to finally relax.”
When heat went to print, Holly, 43, had made no further comment on the trial outside of her formal statement, which was delivered after Plumb was found guilty and read, “As women, we should not be made to feel unsafe going about our daily lives and in our own homes. I will forever be grateful to the undercover police officer who understood the imminent threat, and to the Metropolitan and Essex police forces for their swift response. Thank you to the Crown Prosecution Service, the Rt Hon Mr Justice Murray, Alison Morgan KC, the members of the jury and all involved in this case for ensuring that justice was done and that the defendant will not be able to harm any more women.”
She added, “I would also like to commend the bravery of his previous victims for speaking up at the time. Without their bravery, this conviction may not have been possible.”
Chilling details of Plumb’s plot were outlined in court by prosecutor Alison Morgan KC, who revealed that he had developed an “obsession” with Holly spanning more than a decade. She went on to reveal that Plumb had a “real intention” to kidnap Holly from her home, rape her and eventually murder her. The plot was uncovered after Plumb revealed his plans to an undercover police officer in the US, who he had been speaking to online.
In the wake of the trial, heat’s sources say that Holly – who shares kids Harry, 15, Belle, 13, and Chester, nine, with producer husband Dan Baldwin – is now considering the future, specifically where her career is concerned. In October, coinciding with the distressing news of the kidnap plot, the broadcaster announced she was bowing out of This Morning after 14 years on the sofa. She confided in her 8.4million followers that it was “such a difficult goodbye”, adding, “I feel I have to make this decision for me and my family.”
Then, after much conjecture that she may not return to her long-running role as Dancing On Ice host in January, Holly quashed the rumours with a triumphant rink-side comeback, as fans and colleagues bombarded her with support. But in the months that have followed, Holly has taken a notable step back from work commitments, aside from jetting off to Costa Rica to film Bear Grylls’ new survival show Bear Hunt, which is scheduled to land on Netflix next year.
And while the US has reportedly come knocking for the TV presenter, no further projects are publicly on the agenda for Holly and heat has learned that, for now at least, she is focusing on family life and savouring time away from the spotlight.
Our sources explain that the recent threat to her and her family’s safety has largely been the driving force for this, and has really put things into perspective for the star. With Holly and Dan expected to take the children on their traditional long trip to the Algarve for the school holidays, our insider says that she just wants to be happy again.
“Holly’s priority right now is her family,” we’re told. “She wants to take the summer off – as she has always done – and just be with Dan and the kids. The past 18 months with everything that has gone on has really made her reassess her priorities and she has done a real U-turn. Sometimes, she was guilty of putting her career first and feeling she had to say yes to any amazing opportunities that came her way. Obviously, her ambition hasn’t gone away but it’s no longer the be-all or end-all.”
Even before Plumb’s arrest in October last year, Holly had endured a rough ride. After a spell of intense speculation that her friendship with TV husband Phillip Schofield was in tatters, things took a drastic turn in May 2023 when the veteran presenter quit his roles at ITV following the admission that he had lied about an “unwise but not illegal” affair with a younger colleague. Holly was allegedly blindsided by the news and devastated that Phillip had lied to her.
While the mum of three – and Phil himself – strenuously denied that she was privy to her co-host’s conduct, she was embroiled in the fallout and later ridiculed for her public address to This Morning viewers in the wake of the scandal.
The breakdown of Holly and Phil’s friendship sent shockwaves throughout the nation, considering the pair had reigned as the king and queen of the small screen for decades. Their friendship was deeply rooted in their co-presenting roles on This Morning, where the pair shared unforgettable and often viral moments together. These ranged from turning up tipsy to present This Morning after an NTA win, wearing the same clothes as the night before, to Holly supporting Phillip as he came out as gay live on the show in 2020.
“I will be by your side forever,” she told him, also sharing on Instagram. “Never been more proud of my friend than I am today.” And when rumours of tension between the pair were swirling last year, Phillip insisted, “As I have said before, Holly is my rock. We’re the best of friends — as always, she is an incredible support on screen, behind the scenes and on the phone. Holly has always been there for me, through thick and thin. And I’ve been there for her. The last few weeks haven’t been easy for either of us.”
Now, we are told that while the estranged best friends are nowhere near salvaging their once-close bond, the dust is beginning to settle in the aftermath of Holly’s hellish time.
Our source says, “Phil has been wanting to reach out to Holly for a while as he misses their friendship and still feels guilty for everything that happened. He saw the results of the trial and offered his support to her through mutual friends. As a result, Holly has thawed slightly towards Phil.
“She does miss him, and while she can’t get over the hurt, she no longer has the anger she had towards him. With Phil planning his comeback, Holly would rather them be on friendlier terms. She no longer cares what people think of her and she’s only going to be doing things that make her happy, and if that includes reconnecting with Phil, then she will. Phil was such a huge part of her life for almost two decades and knows she would’ve turned to him before. There is a lot more hope for a reconciliation.”