Holly Willoughby was reportedly placed under police guard following a terrifying plot to kidnap her.
The presenter, 42, was forced to pull out of Wednesday’s (October 4) This Morning show and it’s said police were placed outside the home she lives in with her husband and their three children. A 36-year-old man was arrested by police on Wednesday evening after they allegedly found “sinister messages” threatening to “seriously harm” the ITV star.
READ MORE: This Morning fans confused as Holly Willoughby missing from show without warning
READ MORE: Want more showbiz? Daily Star has just the thing for you!
A source told The Sun: “Investigations are continuing but police are treating this as a credible conspiracy to kidnap Holly. There were apparently some sinister and threatening messages found on electronic devices threatening to seriously harm her.”
The suspect, who is unknown to Holly, was placed into police custody and a marked police car remained outside his flat, according to The Sun. One of his neighbours from Harlow, Essex said she saw a man taken from his property “in handcuffs” at around 9pm.
(Image: ITV)
A second resident added a “forensics van” was parked up too. Police reportedly informed This Morning bosses about the threat, while Holly was told shortly before she was due on air.
Sources told The Sun Holly was “shocked and distraught” and it was decided she should be pulled from the programme. Alison Hammond replaced the star last-minute and presented alongside Josie Gibson.
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Josie kicked off the show by exclaiming: “Look who’s joined me, it’s the one and only Alison Hammond!” Alison quipped back: “I hope you don’t mind, I got a little bit jealous of you and Holly, and you were talking about being blonde, and I thought I’ve got to shake this up a bit, I’m getting in there.”
Holly’s absence didn’t go unnoticed by viewers, with several racing to X, formally known as Twitter, to comment on the topic. One person wrote: “Just tuned in, is Holly ill or just ‘off’?” A second added: “Not even a mention of why she’s not on today?”
(Image: DIGITAL/EROTEME.CO.UK)
Another fan said: “No Holly today?! Devastated.” A fourth declared: “”Holly having a day off!!” Echoing this, someone else penned: “Where’s Holly I missed the beginning #ThisMorning.”
In a statement to The Sun, Essex Police said: “A 36-year-old man from Harlow has been arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap as part of an ongoing investigation. The arrest was made on Wednesday 4 October. He is currently in custody.”
For more of the latest showbiz and TV news from the Daily Star, make sure you sign up for one of our newsletters here.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
