After being denied bail, the man accused of conspiring to kidnap and murder Holly Willoughby will stay behind bars.
Gavin Plumb, 36, a security guard, has pleaded not guilty to accusations of soliciting murder and solicitation to commit kidnapping against the former This Morning host.
The defendant is accused of preparing a ‘kidnap and restraint kit’ and persuading a third party to fly to the UK to commit the alleged crimes.
Plumb, of Harlow, Essex, was arrested on Wednesday, October 4, and appeared in court on Friday, October 6, when it was revealed that he had reportedly contacted a hitman in the United States to murder the actor and had weapons secreted in his home.
He was denied bail during a brief hearing at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, during which he was not present.
His trial date is set for June 24 of next year.
Holly, 42, left This Morning on October 10, months after Phillip Schofield left, claiming it was a ‘honour to merely be a part of its journey,’ but that she felt ‘I had to make this choice for myself and my family.’
She described it as a “difficult goodbye” at the time, triggering an outpouring of solidarity from her former co-stars.
Her statement read: ‘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.
‘This is such a difficult goodbye, you are incredible and I forever will be proud of what we’ve done together.
‘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.’
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was among many who sent their condolences to Holly, telling Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary on This Morning: ‘Before we get started, I was going to say, I’m really sorry to hear about everything that’s going on with Holly.
‘I just wanted to send my best to her and her family, and to all of you.’
‘Thank you we appreciate that, and she will appreciate that as well,’ the hosts replied.
According to his LinkedIn, Plumb worked as a kitchen assistant at Pizza Hut between 2011 and 2012. He also appeared in a BBC programme on weight reduction in 2018, when it was alleged that he was unable to work because he couldn’t go out of his flat.
The suspect is reported to have written a journal for the BBC after weighing 35 stone, and that he was unable to leave his house for at least four years prior to 2018, only going to attend to the community garbage, after downing an average of 36 pints of Coca-Cola each week.
