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Why Holly Willoughby Quits This Morning?
Holly’s speech yesterday, in which she announced her retirement from ITV after 14 years, comes days after it was discovered that supermarket security officer Gavin Plumb had allegedly plotted to kidnap and kill her.
“I have informed ITV today that, after 14 years, I will not be resuming my role on This Morning,” she added.
“Thank you so, so much to everyone who has ever worked on the show over the years.
After 14 years, Holly Willoughby abruptly left This Morning, leaving ITV executives “absolutely gobsmacked” and the floundering program in “chaos.”
Following an alleged conspiracy to abduct and kill her last week, she explained in an emotional post to her eight million Instagram followers that she was leaving with immediate effect for the safety of herself and her family.
It happened just a few weeks after Ms. Willoughby pledged to save the show following the Phillip Schofield debacle and signed a new contract that increased her yearly salary from £700,000 to £800,000.
This Morning, which has been struggling for its existence ever since Schofield disclosed that he had lied about having an affair with a younger colleague, is now in yet another crisis as a result of her choice.
ITV bosses learned about the star’s departure minutes before she posted about it on Instagram while those working on This Morning were taken by surprise.
Ms Willoughby pictured during her last appearance on the show with co-star Josie Gibson
Ms Willoughby’s departure is said to have taken ITV bosses by surprise, with some staff only learning of the decision minutes before she announced it on social media
The star, 42, revealed she’s left the show in an Instagram post
It happens only a few days after Holly stepped down from the show following the revelation that she was the target of a supposedly thwarted kidnapping plan.
When information about the purported conspiracy became available, Holly was placed under constant observation.
This Morning executives were informed on Thursday morning, and the presenter made the decision to leave just before her scheduled on-air appearance.
Those close to Ms. Willoughby, 42, claim that she was ‘terrified’ to be away from her kids as a result of the claimed threats of kidnapping and murder.
With her TV producer husband Dan Baldwin, Ms. Willoughby has three kids: Harry, 14, Belle, 12, and nine-year-old Chester.
On Friday, Gavin Plumb, 36, appeared in court at Chelmsford Magistrates’ Court on charges of soliciting murder and inciting kidnapping.
It is believed that when investigators searched Plumb’s home last week, they discovered ropes, cable ties, a blindfold, and chloroform.
On October 4, Essex Police officers detained Plumb.
On October 6, he appeared in court on charges of soliciting murder and soliciting kidnapping.
District Judge Caroline Jackson dismissed the defendant’s request for bail, and she will appear in Chelmsford Crown Court on November 3.
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Although she has indicated that she left for the benefit of her family, according to her acquaintances, she also felt “awful” about Schofield’s actions.
Schofield, 61, resigned from ITV earlier this year and was dropped by his agency YMU after admitting to a ‘unwise, but not criminal’ flirtation with a younger male colleague.
It was disclosed over the weekend that Ms. Willoughby had gotten in touch with him in an effort to patch things up.
Ms. Willoughby team also showed how he messaged her following last week’s kidnapping plot revelation.
Kevin Lygo, Ms. Willoughby’s boss, made a suggestion that she would work for ITV in the future. She may host Dancing On Ice in the future, but that is uncertain.
We are sorry that Holly is leaving This Morning, but we respect her choice, which we know will have been very challenging for her to make, said Mr. Lygo.
Holly is regarded as one of the UK’s most talented, well-liked, and accomplished broadcasters. For the past 14 years, she has been the center of This Morning, and our viewers adore her.
She is still a cherished member of the ITV family, and we anticipate working with her in the future.
