A petition calling for Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby to be sacked from This Morning has reached more than 36,000 signatures in just four days in the wake of their queue jumping saga.
The ITV presenters were subjected to intense bullying online after they were falsely accused of skipping the queue to see the late Queen lying in state. 41-year-old Holly and 60-year-old Phillip explained that, as members of the press, they did not have to join the queue as they were reporting on the events.
The pair addressed the backlash they have faced on their daytime show and assured people they "would never jump the queue".
Despite this, a petition was filed on change.org to "axe" them from TV.
The petition - labelled ''Axe Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby from TV' was set launched on Saturday by Laura Harrison, who called the duo 'toxic.'
"If enough people sign we can show ITV that the public do matter," wrote Laura.
At the time of publishing, the petition has reached 36,505 signatures. The original target was 15,000 which has now been increased to 50,000.
This Morning bosses issued a strongly worded statement denying Holly and Phillip "jumped the queue" and insisted they were there in a professional capacity.
In response, Laura commented on her petition: "I'm disappointed in the way that they felt they could turn this into a light entertainment piece."
Piers Morgan recently came out in defence of Holly and Phillip, saying they had been "the subject of a ridiculously over the top campaign".
He said: ""Of course they shouldn't be fired - it's ridiculous!"
"Full disclosure - I'm a good friend of Holly's, I feel so sorry for her. She's absolutely distraught, I think, about the reaction," Piers added.
Speaking on This Morning on Tuesday, the pair issued a lengthy statement about the false accusations.
"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.
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