This Morning has insisted that Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby did not 'jump the queue' to see the Queen lying in state in Westminster Hall. The presenting duo had faced criticism on social media this week.
Now the ITV show says that they were there to report on the event as media. Earlier this week, people were concerned that Phil and Holly appeared inside Westminster Hall without seeming to have taken part in the queue, reports PA.
A statement on the programme’s 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.”
The presenting duo, who hosted special tribute editions of ITV’s This Morning to the late Queen all week, were dressed in all-black outfits as they queued for the historic occasion. TV presenter Susanna Reid revealed this week that she had joined thousands of people to see the Queen lying in state as she queued for seven hours and twenty minutes.
The Good Morning Britain anchor, 51, attended the historic event on Thursday with her mother, Sue, and said she had “experienced a moment in history”.
