Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield shared an "emotional SOS phone call" after becoming "really worried" over false claims they 'skipped the queue' at the late Queen's lying-in-state last week.
The This Morning hosts have faced an intense backlash over their appearance at Westminster Hall, with a petition calling for the pair to be axed from their ITV show reaching more than 40,000 signatures in just four days.
Holly, 41, is thought to be particularly upset by the public's reaction as she has never had to deal with "anger and vitriol like this" before.
The presenter is said to have shared an hour long phone call with co-host Phillip, 60, on Saturday as they spoke about how to handle the situation.
"Phil and Holly started to become really worried about the situation on Friday night. They spoke at length and decided they had to do something to protect themselves and the reputation of the show," a source told MailOnline.
At one point, Holly is thought to have come close to deleting her Instagram account, which has attracted hate-filled comments under a picture she posted of tributes her children had made for the Queen.
She has stopped posting on the social media platform amid the drama.
The insider added: "It’s left her so upset and unable to look at social media over most of the last few days.
"What was meant to be a lovely tribute to Her Majesty on her Instagram account has been hijacked by trolls. One thing that has come out of this though undamaged is Phil and Holly’s friendship."
ITV then issued a statement to viewers to set the record straight.
A post on their social media page read: "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."
As members of the press, Holly and Phillip explained they did not have to join the queue, which at one point reached a 24 hour wait time, as they were reporting on the events.
Speaking on their daytime show on Tuesday, the duo issued a lengthy statement about their time at Westminster Hall.
"We were given official permission to access the hall, it was strictly for reporting on the event for millions of people in the UK who haven't been able to visit Westminster in person," Holly said in a pre-recorded voice over.
She added: "The rules were, that we would be quickly escorted around the edges to a platform at the back.
"In contrast, those paying respect stood on a carpeted area beside the coffin and were given time to pause.
"None of the broadcasters or journalists there took anyone's place in the queue and no one filed past the Queen."
Holly admitted they understood the backlash surrounding them being at the lying in state.
"We, of course, respected those rules. However, we realised it may have looked like something else and therefore totally understand the reaction.
"Please know we would never jump the queue," she concluded.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct 0207 29 33033.
