A 36-year-old man has been charged over an alleged plot to kidnap and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby.

Gavin Plumb, 36, of Potters Field, Harlow, has been charged with soliciting to commit murder, incitement to commit rape and incitement to commit kidnap.

The suspect is in custody and will appear at Chelmsford Magistrates Court later today.

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The charges follow an arrest which was made on Wednesday, 4 October.

Detective Superintendent Rob Kirby said “This was an extremely fast-paced investigation, with many of our officers and national partners working overnight to secure these charges.

“The safeguarding of any victim is paramount and we will continue to prioritise this and working with the Metropolitan Police Service as the investigation proceeds.”

This Morning bosses were alerted to the alleged plot on Thursday morning and the presenter decided to pull out shortly before she was due to go on air, according to The Sun.

ITV are also providing round-the-clock security and support for Willoughby alongside the police.

It follows a turbulent few months for Willoughby after her former This Morning co-star Phillip Schofield resigned in May after admitting to an “unwise but not illegal” relationship with a younger male colleague on the show.

He was also dropped by his agent, and as an ambassador for The Prince’s Trust.

An external review is under way after other claims of toxicity and bullying behind the scenes of the daytime show.

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Willoughby said she felt “shaken, troubled and let down” after Schofield’s affair emerged.

“We have given our love and support to someone not telling the truth,” she added.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he “sends his best” to Willoughby in an appearance on This Morning on Friday.

“I just want to say I was so sorry to hear about everything going on with Holly, just wanted to send my best,” he said.

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