This Morning insists Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield ‘did not queue jump’ after fan backlash
THIS Morning has insisted that Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield "did not jump the queue" to see the Queen's coffin after facing fan backlash.
The presenting duo have been criticised for jumping the line to see Her Majesty lying-in-state at Westminster Hall on Friday.
More than one million people - including David Beckham and Susanna Reid - have waited hours to pay their respects to the late monarch, with a 16-hour queue predicted today.
But Holly and Phil were able to avoid the queue because they were let in to film a segment for their ITV show.
This went down badly with some viewers, who accused the hosts of being 'disrespectful'.
However, the ITV show has insisted that Phillip and Holly did not queue jump and were there to "report on the event".
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A statement on the programme’s official Instagram account said: “Hello everyone, we would like to clarify something. We asked Phillip and Holly to be part of a film for this Tuesday’s programme.
“They did not jump the queue, have VIP access or file past the Queen lying in state – but instead were there in a professional capacity as part of the world’s media to report on the event.”
Some fans were left fuming with the pair and believed they should be taken off This Morning.
One said: "Phil and Holly of ITV who went straight to the front. Beyond disgusting, sack both of them, think they are above everyone else."
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"I hate cancel culture but I’ll make an exception. Sack Phil and Holly," commented another.
Another ranted: "Who the **** do Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby think they are?! There's a six-mile long queue to pay respects to the Queen and they think its beneath them to queue 13 hours like David Beckham."
However, others defended the pair who had picked up press passes so they could film inside Westminster Hall.
One asked: "Why are people digging out Schofield and Holly? Weren’t they there for tv purposes?"
Another asked: "You don’t know why they were allowed to do this, so why people are slagging them off is beyond me… & people saying they are never gonna watch #ThisMorning again… please of course they will.."
Phil, 60, wore a black smart suit and a tie, while Holly, 41, opted for an elegant black dress with silver button along the front.
Mum-of-three Holly wore a face mask as she stood in the queue to view lying-in-state, after she peacefully died last Thursday.
The TV hosts joined a separate queue for press and were taken into a press gallery to film a TV segment for Tuesday's show.
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Wearing lanyards around their neck, they were seen looking solemn as they waited in line.
It comes after Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid revealed that she queued for seven hours with her mum to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state on Thursday.
