Holly Willoughby ‘is not in a great place’ in response to Leigh Francis

Holly Willoughby ‘is not in a great place’ within the wake of being focused in an alleged kidnap plot, in response to her pal Leigh Francis.

Leigh – who’s greatest recognized for his alter ego Keith Lemon – grew to become shut pals with Holly throughout her 12-year stint on Celebrity Juice. 

The comic stated the TV presenter has been going via a ‘powerful time’, in response to the Sunday People. 

He defined: ‘I do not suppose she’s in a great place. She’s having a troublesome time.’

Speaking on the We Free Women launch, Leigh, 55, added that he texts the previous This Morning presenter typically in an try and carry her spirits.

He stated: ‘I simply textual content her? I do not ask how she is, however I ship her some messages to cheer her up. 

‘I simply go, “Hope you’re OK”, and inform her about issues I’ve purchased. Like, “I’ve just wasted my money on some Spider-Man Crocs, Holly? do you like them?”

He added that he ‘does not know’ if she is going to return to host Dancing On Ice in January – after she was nonetheless thought of the bookies’ favorite to host the skating present. 

Holly left Celebrity Juice in 2020, leaving Leigh as the one unique member of the line-up after Fearne Cotton stop in 2018.  

After her departure, Keith admitted he too almost left the present – a testomony to their shut bond. 

He advised The Sun on the time: ‘I used to be actually unhappy and realised I used to be going to overlook her. I’m gutted, she was like my TV sister.

‘She’s welcome again any time. I’ll correctly miss her.’

And they confirmed their friendship was nonetheless as robust as ever in April – as Holly dressed up as Barbie for his fiftieth birthday celebration.  

However, in September, he advised MailOnline he hadn’t seen his pal since his birthday celebration. 

He stated: ‘The final time I noticed Holly was on my birthday. I have never seen her since all of the telly drama.

‘April was the final time I noticed her in actual life. Throughout all of the telly drama, I simply textual content folks and go, ‘Are you okay?’.’

He stated he reached out to each Holly and Phillip when the This Morning internet hosting drama started to unfold – amid rumours of a feud between the 2. 

This Morning has had its fair proportion of visitor presenters since Holly departed the present in October. 

They have discovered themselves auditioning dwell on air, with the likes of Cat Deeley and Rylan Clark taking to the morning present – and even Sarah Ferguson set to look on the well-known sofas. 

Mother-of-three Holly, who initially joined the This Morning staff in 2009, left the present final month ‘for the sake of her household’ after discovering she was the goal of an alleged kidnap and homicide plot. 

Gavin Plumb, 36, has pleaded not responsible to fees of soliciting homicide and incitement to commit kidnap the previous This Morning host.

This week it was confirmed that the safety officer will stay behind bars after being denied bail. 

During a brief listening to at Chelmsford Crown Court on Friday, Plumb, 36, from Harlow, Essex, who was not current, was refused a bail utility.

He has a trial date fastened for June 24 subsequent 12 months.

It got here 5 months after Phillip Schofield’s departure following his affair with a younger male showrunner was made public, adopted by claims of an more and more strained relationship along with his co-host.

Holly was pulled from presenting the ITV present in October simply moments earlier than occurring air after police knowledgeable bosses in regards to the alleged plot.

Just hours beforehand, she shared a candid publish on her Wylde Moon weblog about dealing with nervousness. 

The publish stated: ‘If you or somebody you’re keen on suffers with nervousness, you know the way tough it may be to deal with. You usually are not alone,’ adopted by a hyperlink to suggestions and recommendation from Louise Chunn, founding father of WellDoing.org. 

Holly lives at her London dwelling along with her husband Daniel Baldwin, 49, and their three kids – Harry, 14, Belle, 12 and Chester, eight. 

She remained at her dwelling below police guard after information of the plot emerged. 

The prison proceedings are stated to have left Holly – as soon as the golden lady of British tv – in limbo. 

‘Holly’s life couldn’t be extra completely different to the way it was a 12 months in the past and it has taken some adjustment,’ stated one good friend.

‘There was a time when she was dashing round as a busy mum of three, however now she has bought far more time to spend along with her household and having a while away from the cameras. 

‘She is far more of a homebody in the mean time and who is aware of when that may change?’

It is well-deserved downtime for Holly, who some years in the past was so busy that she pulled out of heading up a way of life model along with her good friend and Dragons’ Den star Peter Jones so she may spend the time along with her household.

But now she faces making one of many greatest choices of her working life: if and when to return to tv after she stop the This Morning couch after 14 years final month.

She is because of return to host ITV’s Sunday evening present, Dancing on Ice in January, which she beforehand hosted alongside her former good friend Phillip.

It is her solely dedication following her exit from This Morning and regardless of the BBC being determined to poach her from ITV, there are not any plans within the pipeline.

Sources at ITV say they’re giving her ‘area and time’ to determine what she needs to do, whereas pals counsel that it is perhaps a while earlier than she makes a comeback.