Holly Willoughby Left Distraught After Being Accused Of ‘Skipping Queue’ To See The Queen’s Coffin

The Morning Producers are concerned that Holly Willoughby will be pushed to quit the show following allegations that she and Philip Schofield queue jumped to see the Queen lying in state. The pair sparked backlash after being caught inside Westminster Hall to pay their respects without taking part in the lengthy public queue. 

ITV was forced to address the issue in a statement, and the presenters have also defended themselves. 

On their show’s Tuesday episode, Willoughby and Schofield claimed they entered the hall to work as broadcasters so they could display the solemn scenes to viewers who could not be there themselves. But most people didn’t buy the excuse, with one person calling it a so-called explanation that was way off the mark. Another said: “You claimed you were reporting for the world when it was on every channel.”

Comparisons were made to celebrities who queued for hours with the general public, including David Beckham and Susanna Reid from Good Morning Britain. 

A petition also emerged, demanding that Willoughby and Schofield be sacked from ITV. Over 22,000 people have since signed it. “Philip and Holly are dumbstruck at the level of anger they’ve received in the past few days. They felt ITV should have made it clearer, right away, that it was part of a broadcast,” a source according to DailyMail said. They added the pair spent the weekend locked in talks with TV producers. 

The source continued: “When they started being bombarded with messages via social media they were simply stunned.”

“They’ve been left astonished by the way the whole thing has mushroomed. That’s the main reason they wanted something to be said on Saturday [When This Morning issued a statement] and why they were insistent, the show needed to address its head on Tuesday. Holly in particular has been left totally distraught by this.”

“She’s been in floods of tears at some of the things she’s been called and of the behavior she’s been accused of.”

“She’d never jump a queue or behave in that way and is heartbroken that people think she would. Producers and staff at This Morning are rallying around. They are a close-knit team, but there is a concern at how it has impacted on Holly and has left many wondering if it’s pushed her close to the exit.” However, an ITV source has insisted they make it clear it was part of a Tuesday broadcast. 

The hashtag #thismorning trended on Twitter as suggestions that the This Morning hosts jump the queue sparked outrage. 

In the first episode since the backlash, Willoughby and Schofield vehemently denied the claims, stating: “Like hundreds of accredited broadcasters and journalists, we were given official permission to access the hall. It was strictly for the purpose of reporting on the event for millions of people in the UK who have not been able to visit Westminster in person. The rules were that we would be quickly escorted around the edges to a platform at the back.”

They added: “In contrast, those paying respect walked along a carpeted area beside the coffin and were given time to pause.”

“None of the broadcasters and journalists there took anyone’s place in the queue, and no one filed past the Queen. We of course respected those rules. However, we realize that it may have looked like something else, and, therefore totally understand the reaction. Please know that we would never jump a queue.” It was revealed that an estimated 250K people paid their respects in person to the Queen by seeing her coffin.