Piers Morgan defends Holly and Phil over queue-jumping scandal
Piers Morgan has defended his ITV pals Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield over the queue-jumping scandal at the Queen's funeral. See what he had to say below:
In case you missed it, the This Morning presenters headed to Westminster Hall on Friday (16 September) to pay their respects to the late Queen Elizabeth II as she was lying in state ahead of her funeral.
However, some people took issue with the fact that it appeared they had skipped the hefty, hours-long queue (and the queue to join the queue) and were ushered to the front of the line with press lanyards.
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Despite both Holly and Phil addressing the allegations and outlining how they did not take anyone's place in the line, viewers at home are still mad about it - so much so that they've started a petition to have them axed from the morning show.
Amid the tumult, Piers has jumped in to defence the pair, describing the petition as 'ridiculous'.
On the latest episode of his TalkTV show Uncensored, he said: "All hell broke loose about this, they have been subject to, I think, a ridiculously over-the-top campaign.
"20,000 people have signed a petition to have them fired. Of course they shouldn't be fired, it's ridiculous.
"It may have been a misjudgement. I said myself on this show, I don't think anyone should have been jumping the queue full stop, whoever you are, unless you are a world leader and there is a time issue."
The former Good Morning Britain host added: "Full disclosure, I am a good friends with Holly and I feel very sorry, she is absolutely distraught I think about the reaction."
We hate to be pedantic here, but the number of people who've signed the Change.org petition has since jumped to more than 35,000.
The creator of the campaign wrote: "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."
They added: "At the least though, these toxic presenters Holly and Philip should finally be removed from our TV screens.
"They monopolised way too long."
Holly and Phil both addressed the backlash in yesterday's episode of This Morning, saying that they realise 'it may have looked like something else'.
In a voiceover of a segment on the Queen, Holly explained: "Like 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 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.
"None of the broadcasters or journalists there took anyone's place in the queue and no one filed past the Queen.
"We of course respected those rules, however we realised that it may have looked like something else and therefore totally understand the reaction."
Holly finished by saying: "Please know that we would never jump the queue."
LADbible has contacted ITV for a comment.
Topics: Holly Willoughby, Piers Morgan, Phillip Schofield, This Morning, ITV, The Queen
Daisy Phillipson