Holly Willoughby: This Morning star ‘under police guard’ with 36-year-old man arrested for ‘kidnapping plot’

This Morning star Holly Willoughby is reportedly under a police guard at her home in London after officers allegedly found “sinister messages” threatening to kidnap and seriously harm the 42-year-old.

The mother-of-three was noticeably absent from ITV’s flagship show, This Morning on Thursday (October 5) after the sinister plot to kidnap the star was foiled by police. A 36-year-old man, who is not known to Willoughby, was arrested on Wednesday evening, according to The Sun.

Police cars and forensics were said to be surrounding the man’s flat in Harlow, Essex, as they searched the scene for evidence. A round-the-clock guard has now been put in place at Willoughby’s residence, where she lives with her husband and children.

A source told the paper: “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.”

Willoughby was informed of the situation just before she was due to go on air and was said to have been left “shocked and distraught”. Host Josie Gibson kicked off the morning show saying: “Look who’s joined me. It’s only the one and only Alison Hammond.”

An Essex Police spokesman 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. Enquiries continue.”