ITV This Morning viewers say it's 'awkward' as Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield open first show since 'queue jump' drama
20.09.2022 - 12:59
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield returned to This Morning for the first time since they were embroiled in a 'queue jump' row. The pair were last seen on the ITV daytime show on Thursday (September 15) after the programme was cancelled on Friday for coverage of the King's first trip to Wales.
However, the TV duo were seen in Westminster Hall on Friday and were accused of 'jumping the queue' to see the Queen lie in state. Hundreds of thousands of people queued for up to 14 hours to pay their final respects to the late monarch following her death, aged 96, at Balmoral on September 8.
On Monday morning, ahead of the Queen's state funeral, the last mourners paid their final respects to Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster Hall before the was taken to Westminster Abbey in procession with her children and grandchildren behind her.
READ MORE: Thousands of ITV This Morning fans sign petition to 'axe' Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield amid queue backlash
However, an outpouring of outrage ensued after Holly, 41, and Phillip, 60, were seen inside Westminster Hall when the likes of fellow ITV star Susanna Reid, who hosts Good Morning Britain, queued for several hours with her 81-year-old mother and former footballer David Beckham spent more than 12 hours waiting to pay his respects among thousands of other mourners.
T his Morning has since hit back at the claims. A statement on the programme’s 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