Holly Willoughby suspect unmasked as 35st ex-Pizza Hut worker who could barely leave home

A man charged over an alleged plot to kidnap and kill Holly Willoughby is an ex-Pizza Hut worker who used to weigh 35 stone and didn’t leave the house for years.

Gavin Plumb, 36, appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on Friday (October 6) accused of offences including conspiracy to commit murder and incitement to commit kidnap.

The father-of-one is a security guard at the Pinnacles Shopping Centre in Harlow, but previously worked at Pizza Hut and McDonald’s before he was forced to quit after his weight ballooned.

The courth heard today how Plumb was found in possession of weapons and had contacted a hitman in the US to kill the This Morning presenter.

He spoke only to confirm his name and address.

Supt Tim Tubbs from Essex Police said: “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 and working with the Metropolitan police service as the investigation proceeds.”

Essex Police said earlier the suspect was arrested on Wednesday (October 4) on suspicion of conspiracy to kidnap and is in custody. He was charged this morning.

The force said in a statement: “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 October 4. He is currently in custody.”

After appearing before district judge Caroline Jackson today, Plumb has been remanded in custody and will appear in court on November 3.

Mr Plumb featured in a BBC documentary in 2018, maintaining a diary for the broadcaster after reaching 35 stone from gorging on junk food and drinking 36 pints of coke per week.

He told the BBC at the time: “My weight has always fluctuated. At my heaviest, I was 35 and a half stone. When the weight started to pile on, that was when my mental health really went down.

“It’s a vicious circle. When I’m depressed, I eat – and when I eat, I’m depressed. For a long time, I found it difficult walking around. But getting to the point of not being able to go out, that really crept up on me.”

He had a gastric band fitted, but neighbours told MailOnline today that he is still severely overweight.

This Morning bosses were alerted to the alleged plot on Thursday morning and the presenter decided to pull out shortly before she was due to go on air, according to The Sun.

It is understood that ITV is providing round-the-clock security and support for Willoughby alongside the police.

Willoughby’s ITV colleague Lorraine Kelly addressed the alleged kidnap and murder plot on Friday’s episode of her programme Lorraine, saying they were “very, very upsetting”.

She added: “Of course we are sending Holly all of our love and best wishes, that is a terrible thing to be having to go through for her and her family.”