Holly: I am so glad to get Phil's support

SCHOFE BACK IN TOUCH AFTER KIDNAP HORROR

- LAURA ARMSTRONG

PHILLIP Schofield has reached out to former best friend Holly Willoughby after hearing of the alleged plot to kidnap and murder her.

Sources clos e to Phil, who co-hosted This Morning with Holly for 14 years, said he was sickened by the horrific claims.

Phil, 61, has been in contact with the TV favourite, 42, since security guard Gavin Plumb was charged with soliciting a US hitman to commit murder, and incitement to commit kidnap.

A source said Holly, who is on indefinite leave from the daytime show, was "really happy" to hear from Phil after five months of silence.

Their close friendship lay in tatters after Phil confessed to lying about having an affair with a younger employee and quit the ITV show.

Holly reached out to him amid the fallout, voicing her concern but, sources said, there was no further contact between the pair who had once been so close.

A source said: "Holly and Phil's friendship was so close before the events of this year. Phil's decision to reach out, and the welcome it has been received with by Holly, shows that there is still a bond there.

The source added: "The hope is they can regain some of the ground lost, and support each other again."