Thousands sign petition to axe Holly and Phil from This Morning amid queue backlash

A petition calling for Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield to be axed from This Morning has reached over 15,000 signatures following claims they jumped the queue to see the Queen lying in state.

The television hosts were spotted filing into Westminster Hall on Friday last week as tens of thousands of mourners queued through the night to pay their respects to the late monarch.

However, while most people stood in the now-famous queue for as long as fifteen hours – football star David Beckham reportedly waited in the line for thirteen hours – Holly and Phillip seemingly skipped the entire queue. 

The pair were immediately met with a wave of backlash online, with ITV bosses hastily insisting the hosts were there as ‘credited members of the press’, and therefore had not pushed in the queue. 

A statement issued by ITV read: “Hello everyone, we would like to clarify something. We asked Holly and Phillip 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.”

Despite the explanation, however, a petition was still set up calling for Holly and Phillip to be axed as hosts of This Morning.

The Change.org petition also called for the breakfast show to be cancelled altogether, with its description reading: “Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield, two hosts of one of the most damaging to mental health day time tv show This Morning, were able to push past those thousands and get immediate access.

“ITV should be ashamed of exploiting the situation. I’d like to see This Morning axed for good as I do believe it causes more harm than good, without people noticing. For example, like turning cost of living anxiety into a game show.

“At the least though, these toxic presenters Holly and Philip should finally be removed from our TV screens. They monopolised way too long.”

At the time of writing, the petition has gained 15,250 signatures. 

But now, the hosts have offered an explanation to their presence at Westminster Hall, with them saying that while they ‘understand the reaction’, they would ‘never jump a queue’. 

In a voiceover for a VT of the last week’s events, Holly could be heard saying: “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 haven’t 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.

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

She continued: “None of the broadcasters and journalists there took anyone’s place in the queue and no one filed passed the Queen.

“We, of course, respected those rules, however, we realise that it may have looked like something else and therefore totally understand the reaction.”

Holly then added: “Please know that we would never jump a queue.”