Holly Willoughby trial LIVE updates as Gavin Plumb in court accused of kidnap and murder plot

The trial of a 37-year-old man accused of plotting to kidnap and murder TV presenter Holly Willoughby is due to begin today (Monday, June 24).

Gavin Plumb, a shopping centre security officer, is charged with soliciting a man to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap. His trial, at Chelmsford Crown Court, is due to last approximately two weeks.

Plumb, of Harlow, Essex, is accused of planning to assemble a “kidnap and restraint kit” and encouraging a third party to travel to the UK to carry out the alleged offences. The defendant is alleged to have conspired online with another man, who was to travel to the UK from the US, and created a “detailed plan” to carry out the offences.

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Read more court news from the Manchester Evening News here.

Plumb, who denies all charges, has been remanded in custody since October last year.

Ms Willoughby, 43, was the presenter of ITV's This Morning from 2009 until October 2023, when she announced she would be stepping down. She said in a social media post at the time that she felt: “I have to make this decision for me and my family.”

The presenter has since hosted the latest series of Dancing on Ice and will present a new Netflix show next year featuring adventurer Bear Grylls.

Follow below for live updates from the trial