Distraught’ Holly Willoughby ‘pulled out of This Morning after learning of suspected plot to kidnap her’: TV star was replaced by Alison Hammond and is now ‘under police guard’ as man, 36, is arrested

A ‘distraught’ Holly Willoughby pulled out of This Morning after learning of a plot to kidnap her, it has been reported.  

The mother-of-three is currently under police guard at her London home after alleged ‘sinister messages’ were uncovered.

Willoughby was pulled from presenting the ITV show after the alleged plot was foiled by police officers when a 36-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday evening, reported The Sun

It has been reported he is not known to the TV star.  

Marked police cars and forensics surrounded the man’s flat in Harlow, Essex, where he lives alone and combed the scene for evidence with a neighbour witnessing the man being led away in handcuffs. 

It is understood Essex Police is treating the alleged kidnapping as a credible conspiracy with it claimed there were threats of ‘serious harm’ to Willoughby. 

Holly Willoughby was pulled from presenting This Morning after it was claimed Essex Police found 'sinister messages' threatening 'serious harm' to the mother-of-three (pictured at 8th National Television Awards at The O2, in London in September)

Holly Willoughby was pulled from presenting This Morning after it was claimed Essex Police found ‘sinister messages’ threatening ‘serious harm’ to the mother-of-three (pictured at 8th National Television Awards at The O2, in London in September)

Willoughby, 42, was said to be ‘distraught’ after police uncovered an alleged plot to kidnap her 

A source told The Sun: ‘There were apparently some sinister and threatening messages found on electronic devices threatening to seriously harm her.’ 

Officers have said to have seized a mobile phone and electronic devices from the flat.

The 42-year-old was said to be ‘distraught’ and she was pulled from presenting This Morning today just moments before she was due on air after bosses were alerted by police. 

An Essex Police spokesman said last night: ‘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.’

Fans were baffled when she went missing from the morning show – and was replaced by a big name co-star instead.

Host Josie Gibson, 38, was joined by the much-loved Alison Hammond, 48.

Alison – who has recently made her debut as presenter of Bake Off – joked she was getting jealous of seeing Josie and Willoughby together on the show.

Viewers were left in confusion, because the reasons of her absence were unknown. 

Beaming Josie kicked off the morning show as she said: ‘Look who’s joined me. It’s only the one and only Alison Hammond!’

Willoughby is said to be under 24/7 police guard at her London hime where she lives with her husband Dan Baldwin (pictured in 2016) and their three children

Unusual: This Morning fans were baffled as Holly Willoughby went missing from the morning show on Thursday – and was replaced by a big name co-star instead

Willoughby was all smiles alongside co-presenter Josie Gibson on Wednesday during the show’s ‘Spin to Win’ segment

Beaming Josie kicked off the morning show as she said: ‘Look who’s joined me. It’s only the one and only Alison Hammond!’

‘Oh, Josie! I hope you don’t mind, I got a bit jealous. I saw you and Holly and you were talking about being blonde and I thought “I’m going to shake this up a bit. I’m getting in there”,’ replied Alison.

‘Is that ok? You don’t mind?’

But Josie quipped: ‘No, of course not, I love you!’, while Alison replied: ‘I love you too.’

Willoughby kissed her husband Dan Baldwin on the cheek as she wished him a happy birthday in loved-up Instagram post on Wednesday.

The presenter – who rarely gives a glimpse into her marriage – celebrated the TV producer’s day by sharing a sweet photograph of them.

In the post, Willoughby and Dan, 49, could been at a festival from over the summer with the stage seen in the background.

She captioned the post: ‘Happy birthday to my Love.’

The couple tied the knot at Amberley Castle in Sussex on August 4, 2007, and they have since welcomed three children together.

Now parents to children Harry, Belle and Chester, the couple maintain a low profile away from work.

Couple: Holly kissed her husband Dan Baldwin, 49, on the cheek as she wishes him a happy birthday in loved-up post on Wednesday

Willoughby gave fans a rare insight into the saucy repartee that sparked her initial romance with husband Dan as she co-hosted This Morning.

The presenter originally dated TV producer Baldwin while working on chaotic Saturday morning children’s show Ministry Of Mayhem, before exchanging vows in 2007.

But Willoughby hinted at the flirty banter that originally sparked her interest in Baldwin while presenting Thursday’s show alongside Craig Doyle.

Her most recent Instagram post shows her standing with a smile on her face dressed in a French Connection dress ahead of Wednesday’s This Morning show. 

Co-hosting a debate about the return of cheesy chat-up lines, Doyle gamely asked if Willoughby remembered Baldwin’s first romantic endeavours.

‘I actually do, but it’s not for morning telly,’ she admitted as guests Nick Ferrari and Nicola Thorp burst into fits of laughter.

She added: ‘It wasn’t really rude, but it was a little bit naughty, so not for morning telly.’

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12599871/Holly-Willoughby-Morning-suspected-plot-kidnap.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490 Distraught’ Holly Willoughby ‘pulled out of This Morning after learning of suspected plot to kidnap her’: TV star was replaced by Alison Hammond and is now ‘under police guard’ as man, 36, is arrested

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