Holly Willoughby speaks about impact on family life after Essex man found guilty of plotting her murder

Holly Willoughby was forced to miss out on parts of her children's lives due to a plot to kidnap and murder her by Essex man Gavin Plumb. The Dancing On Ice presenter was left shocked on October 5, 2023, when police revealed the chilling plot to kidnap, rape and murder her.

Plumb, from Potters Field in Harlow, had gone to extreme lengths to fulfil his twisted plans, of which some of the details are too disturbing to report. After finishing her segment on This Morning, Holly, 43, was quickly rushed to safety, with her colleague Alison Hammond stepping in as her replacement.

Unbeknownst to Plumb, he had been communicating with an undercover police officer in America when he was looking for help with his appalling plans. On July 4, 2024, he was convicted of soliciting murder, encouraging or assisting the commission of kidnap, and encouraging or assisting the commission of rape.

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He received a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years for his heinous crimes. Holly courageously waived her right to anonymity but her victim impact statement was deemed classified. In a rare interview, Holly has now revealed the impact that Plumb had on her family life, reports the Mirror. She said: "I've spent a long time not being able to take my kids to school."

Speaking to The Sunday Times Style Magazine, the star went on to say: "I know, the school run, every [other] parent, they'd be like, 'Christ, you absolutely dodged a bullet there.' But there have been so many assemblies I haven't been able to go to, so many things I've missed.

"Harry [her eldest son], is doing his GCSEs at the moment, this is his last year of school before he goes off to college and A-levels and stuff. And actually I'm grateful for having this time. Without even realising it, I think I've missed that. It's really lovely to get some of that back."

During the trial, Mr Justice Edward Hess acknowledged Holly as a "well-known and well-loved public figure" and mentioned that he had "carefully" read her impact statement, which he found too disturbing to be read by anyone other than "those who needed to see."

Mr Justice Edward Murray also told Plumb that he had "no doubt" the security guard's intentions for Willoughby were "considerably more than a fantasy". The judge went on to say: "Your plan was hopelessly unrealistic for a number of reasons – including your poor physical health – but you clearly thought it was feasible. Although you talked about carrying out the plan on your own, I am sure that this was simply bravado.

"You always intended to carry out your plan to kidnap, rape and kill Ms Willoughby, but only if you could find the right man or men – the right 'crew' as you sometimes called it – to help you do it."

He told the disgraced security guard that his plans were so "horrifying, shocking and graphic in detail," that they couldn't be heard in an open court. "The jury, however, read every single message during the trial," he said, before adding: "Your claim in your evidence that you had bought the chloroform to clean a stubborn stain on your living room carpet was a particularly clumsy and obvious lie."

Although Holly decided to keep her witness statement private, Alison Morgan KC told the court: "What I can say, and I make this submission from the prosecution... it is abundantly clear that in making that statement the prosecution submits the impact of this offending has been life-changing for the victim of these offences – both in private and personal terms – private, personal and indeed professional.

"It is clear, the prosecution submits... that the extent of the shock and fear caused by this offending has been impossible to convey." She added that the plans had a "catastrophic impact" on her life and there were "no meaningful mitigating factors" and urged for Plumb to be handed a life sentence."