Holly Willoughby

HOLLY Willoughby has admitted she knows “what real fear is” after a terrifying kidnap plot as she opens up on experiencing a “really difficult time”.

The presenter, 45, is gearing up to relaunch her career with her brand new show on YouTube.

But the last few years of her life haven’t exactly been plain sailing after she was the victim of a horrific kidnap, rape and murder plot back in 2023.

Security guard Gavin Plumb was charged in October of that year for soliciting murder and inciting kidnap and rape and was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 16 years.

Speaking about the difficult time of her life, she told Grazia in a new interview: “Everybody knows what happened and it was difficult. It was a really difficult time.

“It did set me back and made me realise, ‘Right, well of course you haven’t got everything figured out. Of course life is going to keep throwing challenges at you.”’

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“When something like that happens, suddenly everything else gets put into perspective and you know what?

“I don’t fear what people think because I know what real fear feels like.”

Last month, The Sun on Sunday reported that Gavin was caught with a sinister stash of pictures of her in his prison cell.

The disturbing haul was found by prison officers hidden under a mattress.

A source said: “Plumb is still obsessed with Holly. The pictures were taken from magazines.

“He should not have been allowed access to images of her.”

Despite everything she’s been through, Holly is focusing on the next chapter of her life as she moves on with her career relaunch.

Her new YouTube show ‘Holly Willoughby Together’ is set to launch on July 28.

Speaking at her launch event earlier today, she said: “The YouTube idea obviously I’ve been away for a little while and my kids, watching my kids how they use stuff now, you know they watch stuff on YouTube they watch stuff on Netflix that’s how they do things.

“I was like right how am I watching stuff now and I was walking the dog and I’d be listening to Spotify or a podcast and I’d come in and I’d start cooking lunch and then I’d be like oh watch that now.”

“You suddenly realise that the way you see and view things and watch things is very very different.

“I don’t feel like it’s just me, I feel like everybody’s doing the same sort of thing,” added Holly.

The mum-of-three explained she feels as though mainstream TV isn’t the only place that can breed success.

She said: “You see what Gary Lineker has just done with the World Cup, you know collaborating with Netflix and with music, people will go on Radio 2 but then they’ll also go on a podcast.”

Holly added: “I think being a little bit braver and not just going for the obvious options, is the thing that really got me and then I thought ‘yes.’

“I thought ‘that’s it, that’s what I want to do.’”

Holly stepped down from This Morning in October 2023 and despite appearing briefly on Dancing On Ice the following year, she has largely taken a break from the spotlight.

Her glitzy lifestyle YouTube series, which starts on July 28, has a similar format to ITV‘s This Morning.

She will drop two episodes every week, and they will include sections on cookery, lifestyle, fashion, beauty and real life stories, as well as celebrity guests.

The telly legend has already confirmed appearances from actor Stanley Tucci, Spice Girl star Emma Bunton, All Saints singer Nicole Appleton, and comedians Joanne McNally and Katherine Ryan.

Holly Willoughby is reportedly planning to relaunch her television career in the coming days on a show which could rival ITV’s This Morning, which she stepped down from in 2023

Holly Willoughby could be back on screens very soon. Since stepping down from ITV’s This Morning in 2023, the presenter has kept a relatively low profile, only appearing on two TV shows.

But according to reports, the 45-year-old has already participated in top-secret on-camera rehearsals for a new TV show, which could see her back on screens in no time. The new lifestyle series, which has recently been looking for staff ahead of its launch, will be titled Together.

And it comes as her This Morning replacement, Cat Deeley and co-star Ben Shephard are taking their summer break from the ITV magazine show. The firm behind the show, Hungry Bear, was recently advertising for a video editor, who would be required to work on “a new online series, producing high-performance, long-form content to be placed on YouTube“.

The hiring advert stated that the candidate would be required to start today or next Monday. The Daily Mail reports that the advert states: “Ideally starting Monday 22nd June (29/06 would be a possibility for the right candidate), the initial term will be four weeks, with the potential to extend to a year-long contract.”

Holly’s husband, Dan Baldwin’s firm, Hungry Bear Media, is behind the new show. She previously hinted at a return to work in a cryptic social media post. Sharing a snap on Instagram last week, Holly said: “Reunited with my absolute dream team today and my face, hair and outfit have never been more grateful.”

In her upload, she tagged make-up artist Patsy O’Neill, her stylist Danielle Whiteman, and hairdresser Ciler Perksah. She went on to add: “Nobody does it like the OGs. But honestly? The drive home might have won the day. My not so baby babies are waiting and that’s the only call time that really matters.”

The star has also filed trademark requests for a wide variety of products under the Together brand, indicating that Holly is keen to launch a spin-off, should the series become a success.

Holly stepped back from her telly roles with ITV in 2025, after appearing as a guest panellist on You Bet! Her time on This Morning came to an end in October 2023, after a plot to abduct her came to light. Since her departure, she has turned her attention to her lifestyle brand, Wylde Moon, which she launched five years ago.

Accounts for the firm from October 2024 show that current net assets amount to £4,831, a significant increase over the previous year’s £ 1,885. However, the company currently owes £733,485 to creditors, an increase from the £583,748 from the previous year. Creditors include HMRC with a £67,262 for Corporation Tax.

She later fronted Celebrity Bear Hunt with Bear Grylls, but the Netflix show was scrapped after just one season.

The Mirror has approached Holly’s spokesperson for comment.

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