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Exactly a year ago, Holly Willoughby enjoyed a girls’ night out with her daughter, Belle.
A trip to the cosmetic shop Glossier in Covent Garden was followed by the theatre to see the West End musical, Six.
Ms Willoughby excitedly told her eight million followers on Instagram about what she described as her ‘perfect night.’
‘Me and Belle Got lost in @glossier and utterly blown away by @sixthemusical … my second time and Belle’s first,’ she enthused. ‘Thank you for having us #girlsnight.’
If ever there was a moment when the former This Morning presenter was going to realise just what a difference 12 months can make, it was yesterday.
For that was when shopping centre security guard Gavin Plumb appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court to plead not guilty to three criminal charges relating to an alleged plot to kidnap and murder Ms Willoughby.
The 36-year-old father of two, of Harlow, Essex, was accused of putting together a ‘kidnap and restraint’ kit at his home and attempting to arrange for an American assassin to snatch the star. He was remanded in custody until a trial in June.
The criminal proceedings have left Holly Willoughby – once the golden girl of British television – in limbo
For many years she has been one of the most visible faces in the celebrity world. But Ms Willoughby, 42, hasn’t been seen publicly since Plumb’s arrest at the beginning of last month
Gavin Plumb appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court to plead not guilty to three criminal charges relating to an alleged plot to kidnap and murder Ms Willoughby
The criminal proceedings have left Ms Willoughby – once the golden girl of British television – in limbo. ‘Holly’s life could not be more different to how it was a year ago and it has taken some adjustment,’ said one friend.
‘There was a time when she was dashing around as a busy mum of three, but now she has got much more time to spend with her family and having some time away from the cameras. She is much more of a homebody at the moment and who knows when that will change?’
For many years she has been one of the most visible faces in the celebrity world. But Ms Willoughby, 42, hasn’t been seen publicly since Plumb’s arrest at the beginning of last month.
She is said to be spending most of her time at the £6million London home that she shares with her television producer husband Dan Baldwin and their three children Harry, 14, Belle, 12, and nine-year-old Chester.
It is well-deserved downtime for Ms Willoughby, who some years ago was so busy that she pulled out of heading up a lifestyle brand with her friend and Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones so she could spend the time with her family.
But now she faces making one of the biggest decisions of her working life: if and when to return to television after she quit the This Morning sofa after 14 years last month.
Ms Willoughby is due to return to host ITV’s Sunday night show, Dancing on Ice in January, which she previously hosted alongside her former friend Phillip Schofield. It is her only commitment following her exit from This Morning and despite the BBC being desperate to poach her from ITV, there are no plans in the pipeline.
Sources at ITV say they are giving her ‘space and time’ to decide what she wants to do, while friends suggest that it might be some time before she makes a comeback. Her ‘annus horribilis’ began in March when her long-standing friendship with Schofield came to an abrupt end when he didn’t tell her about his brother Tim going on trial for 11 child sex offences.
Shortly afterwards, Schofield quit This Morning and just weeks later he admitted to having an affair with a much younger colleague on the daytime programme.
Ms Willoughby is due to return to host ITV’s Sunday night show, Dancing on Ice in January, which she previously hosted alongside her former friend Phillip Schofield
A source close to Ms Willoughby said: ‘She just doesn’t know what to do’. Pictured: Holly on her first day as a presenter on This Morning in 2009
In the summer her team said that she was planning on returning to TV this year, either to present solo or with a new male sidekick, with Catchphrase host Stephen Mulhern being the frontrunner. But after news of the alleged kidnap plot came to light last month, she announced she was quitting This Morning, saying she was doing it ‘for me and my family’.
A source close to Ms Willoughby said: ‘She just doesn’t know what to do.’
During her difficulties, she has not been short of love and support – in particular from her A-list ‘girl gang’.
Former All Saints singer Nicole Appleton, Spice Girl Emma Bunton and ITV presenter Christine Lampard are all regularly in touch with her.
Also in the group, who share their nights out together on Instagram are PR guru Niki de Metz and Shiarra Bell, who is head of artist relations at Universal Music.
Only last year Holly, Nicole and Shiarra shared a video on Instagram of a girly day, singing along in a car to lyrics that went: ‘I’m gonna be hungover, I’m gonna be hungover, I’m gonna drink a bunch of different drinks and I’m gonna be hungover!’
One source said yesterday: ‘Holly has been so grateful for her girls in the last year, it has been tricky to navigate it all but they have been there for her every step of the way. They have managed to put a smile on her face when it has felt impossible.
‘The girls are usually planning fun days and nights out together but right now their priority is to cheer up Holly.
‘Nothing is too much for them, it’s really rather lovely and heart-warming to know she has such strong, female friendships.’
Her friend continued: ‘You wouldn’t wish what Holly has had to go through in the past year or so on anyone.
‘It has been a nightmare for her, we all just hope that things get better for her really soon.’
And that would mean the television star and her beloved Belle can start to enjoy their idyllic mother and daughter nights out again.