Holly Willoughby has reportedly kept her job as the face of M&S despite the backlash over ‘ queue-gate’.
The 41-year-old’s contract with the high street retailer, who she signed a deal to become a brand ambassador with in 2018, is said to have been extended.
But her This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield, who has a number of lucrative ad deals with brands, seems to have been quietly removed from the We Buy Any Car social media accounts.
It comes as the TV presenters were falsely accused of skipping the queue to see the Queen’s coffin lying in state last week, days before the monarch’s funeral.
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An M&S spokesperson told The Sun : “I can confirm we have extended our current contract with Holly and we will continue to work with her.”
The Mirror has contacted M&S for further comment and reached out to We Buy Any Car about Phillip.
Despite ITV clarifying Holly and Phil did not jump the line and were at Westminster Hall in a professional capacity, the pair have been viciously trolled on social media.
A statement on the This Morning 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."
Holly and Phil also issued a lengthy statement about the pictures of them at Westminster Hall.
In a pre-recorded voice over, Holly explained: "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.
"The rules were, that we would be quickly escorted around the edges to a platform at the back."
She continued: "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," Holly concluded.
A petition calling for them to be sacked from This Morning has so far received almost 70,000 signatures.
Sources close to Holly say she has no intention of stepping aside from a job she loves as her and Phil continue to weather the storm.
A TV source told The Mirror: "The abuse has been nothing short of disgusting, not least as they have done nothing wrong and were fully entitled to media accreditation so they could inform their viewers.”
They added: "She [Holly] adores her job and would never quit. The whole experience has been totally brutal but one thing has remained constant, and that’s been ITV’s unwavering support."
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