Just when Holly Willoughby thought she could finally move on from her terrifying kidnap, rape and murder plot, the chilling ordeal is coming back to haunt her once again after it was announced that 5 would be creating a one-off documentary exploring the foiled plot – and insiders tell us the presenter is finding it difficult knowing the details will be dragged back up again for the public to scrutinise.
Holly, 44, stepped down from her hosting duties on This Morning in October 2023 after being alerted by police that they had arrested convicted sex offender Gavin Plumb, who had been planning to break into Holly’s house and kidnap her before raping and murdering her.
The security guard’s crime was exposed after he boasted about his sick desire in an online chat room to a man he hoped would join him – unaware that he was, in fact, speaking to an undercover police officer in the US, who alerted UK authorities.
Plumb, 37, was sentenced to life in prison and ordered to serve a minimum term of 16 years last July, following a trial in which the judge Edward Murray called his plans ‘particularly sadistic, brutal and degrading’. Justice Murray added the plans were ‘so horrifying, shocking and graphic in detail they were not read out in open court.’
Following the sentencing, Holly issued a statement that said, ‘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. 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.’
But the mum-of-three will now have to face the ordeal again when the 90-minute documentary – which vows to ‘explore the development of a shocking crime that stunned the nation’ – is broadcast.
Holly declined to take part in the film – titled Stalking Holly Willoughby – and her reps have reportedly informed 5 that she wasn’t technically stalked, so the title is incorrect. But, despite their objections, the show is set to air and, we’re told, Holly’s biggest fear is that having the ordeal brought back into the spotlight will make her feel even more exposed than she already does.
‘Holly won’t be watching the documentary, obviously – she wants nothing to do with it,’ an insider tells heat. ‘She was approached, but she wasn’t interested. She has no desire to relive what was by far the worst experience of her life. She refused to be interviewed or provide any information. As far as Holly is concerned the programme is just going to reopen a lot of old wounds and bring back a lot misery.’
The source continues, ‘This is a part of her life she’d just rather forget. She’s desperate to move on, but this programme means it’s all being dragged up again. There’s going to be a lot of publicity and coverage in the run-up to the broadcast, and Holly is going to have to see images of Plumb again in the ads and previews. It’s all very traumatic, but there’s absolutely nothing she can do about it – apart from try to get on with life.’
Holly has made a determined effort to put this torrid chapter of her life behind her. Opening up about the ordeal for the first time in February when she was promoting Netflix’s Celebrity Bear Hunt – which became one of the UK’s most watched shows upon its launch –she said, ‘It’s been a tough [year]. There’s no way of sugar-coating it. When something like that happens, you have a decision to make. You can either decide, right, I can take this on board, and it can absolutely affect all aspects of my life, or I can make a choice to go, “Let’s focus on everything that's positive and good”, all those important things. I’m healthy and I’m happy. I’ve got a wonderful husband and children and family, I’ve got great friends. You have to go, “I choose to positively move forward”, and rely on all those people – the police, court, judge, jury – to do their role. And that’s what I had to do.’
Since the ordeal, Holly’s return to work has been cautious. Along with Bear Hunt, she presented the last series of Dancing On Ice, which finished last month and is now on indefinite hiatus. A statement from ITV read, ‘Following another successful series earlier this year, Dancing On Ice will be rested in 2026 with no current plans for another series.’
Holly reportedly turned down the opportunity to host a full series of a You Bet! reboot – of which she fronted two special episodes alongside Stephen Mulhern last year – but she is thought to have other projects in the pipeline. Meanwhile, she is continuing to throw herself into her lifestyle brand Wylde Moon and focusing on her family life with TV producer husband Dan Baldwin, 49, and their three children Harry, 15, Belle, 13, and Chester, 10.
‘Holly’s family and friends are rallying round her,’ our source says. ‘Nobody close to her will be watching the documentary. Holly is keen to support others who have been through similar experiences to her, and she also wants to shine a light on the struggles people face at the hands of monsters like Plumb. But she’d prefer it to be more substantive rather than a TV show – she doesn’t want to be involved in anything like that.’
Despite having the documentary’s air date looming over her, Holly is expected to soon be enjoying a well-deserved holiday at her second home in Portugal with her family over the Easter break.