Featured Image Credit: ITV
Topics: Celebrity, This Morning, Holly Willoughby
Jess Hardiman
Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary had issued an emotional message to Holly Willoughby after she was forced to pull out of This Morning due to a man threatening to 'kidnap and seriously harm' her.
Her ITV colleagues on Good Morning Britain confirmed the terrifying news on today's programme, telling viewers that 'sinister messages' had reportedly been found on the man's phone.
Essex Police said that a man has been arrested in connection with the incident, saying that Holly's home - which she shares with husband Daniel Baldwin and their three children - was under police watch.
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Kate Garraway told GMB viewers: “Holly Willoughby was forced to pull out from presenting This Morning yesterday after an alleged kidnapping plot was foiled by police.
“A 36-year-old man, who was not known to the star, was arrested on Wednesday evening.”
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Ben Shephard said it was a really ‘sinister story', while Liz Summers, reporting from outside Harlow Police Station, added: “This is a deeply concerning and worrying story to wake up to today. We understand that a man not known to Holly Willoughby was arrested at his flat here in Harlow on Wednesday night.
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"It was actually The Sun newspaper that originally broke this story, and they say that police allegedly found sinister messages on a number of devices, threatening to kidnap and seriously harm the presenter.”
Liz continued: “This morning there’s no word yet from either ITV or Holly Willoughby. We understand that the presenter’s home is under police guard this morning at that home that she shares with her husband and three children as these police investigations continue.”
While Holly is yet to comment publicly on the incident, her This Morning co-presenters took a moment today to send ‘love and hugs’ to her.
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“We're not going to talk much about it but we have to start with the story of one of our own,” Dermot said.
Alison added: "We are obviously all shocked to hear the news and we want to send our love and biggest hugs to Holly and her family.”
Earlier this morning, Lorraine Kelly also said during her own show that her thoughts were with Holly.
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“Very upsetting and of course we're sending her all of our love and best wishes,” she said.
“That's a terrible thing to go through for her and her family.”
Essex Police superintendent Tim Tubbs said in an updated statement: “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 as the investigation proceeds.”