Today (Monday, October 9), viewers of This Morning will notice that Holly Willoughby is not among the presenters.
Willoughby was believed to have been relieved of her hosting responsibilities just before the ITV show was supposed to run last Thursday, with Alison Hammond taking over with Josie Gibson.
The actor hasn’t been seen on the show since, despite formerly co-hosting This Morning with Phillip Schofield for years until stepping down in May of this year.
Gavin Plumb, 36, was arrested and accused last Wednesday with solicitation to do murder and instigation to commit kidnapping of Willoughby, 42.
Plumb, who was born in Harlow, Essex, was apparently unknown to the TV star.
On Friday, a court heard how he hired a hitman in the United States to murder her and kept firearms in his house.
Willoughby was said to be ‘in bits’ after Plumb’s arrest, feeling’shaken,’ ‘petrified,’ and ‘unable to take in’ what had occurred, according to individuals close to her, with her London house being monitored by police.
Why is Holly Willoughby not on This Morning today?
In light of the suspected kidnapping and murder plot against Willoughby, the host is claimed to be leaving This Morning indefinitely.
Gibson and Craig Doyle hosted the show on Monday, October 9.
‘Holly has been left distraught by the news. This has been an absolutely horrible week for her,’ a source told The Mirror.
‘At the moment she really is getting through things hour by hour. Her absolute priority is her own safety and that of her family – who are supporting her through this incredibly difficult time.’
The source added that ‘there has been no discussion about when, or if, she will return to the This Morning sofa’.
‘No decisions have been made about that. But given the terrifying things she has learned this week, the question of returning to work could not be further from her mind.’
In a statement released on Friday, a spokesperson for ITV said: ‘This news has come as a huge shock to everyone at This Morning and ITV.
‘We are providing all of the support we can to Holly and her family at this incredibly distressing time.’
On Friday’s show, Hammond and Dermot O’Leary also shared a message of support for Willoughby, with the latter saying: ‘We’re not going to talk too much about it but we have to start with a story about one of our own.
‘Holly is on the front pages this morning after police arrested a 36-year-old man over an alleged kidnap plot. He has now been charged by Essex Police.’
Hammond continued: ‘We were obviously all shocked to hear the news and we want to send our love and biggest hugs to Holly and her family.’
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV.
