Petition to axe Phil and Holly from This Morning over Queen's funeral passes 15,000 signatures
A petition has surfaced online urging This Morning to take disciplinary action against presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
The pair were accused of jumping the queue to pay their respects to the Queen's coffin at Westminster Hall last Friday (16 September).
The Queen passed away nearly two weeks ago (8 September), and since her passing, thousands have since rushed to mourn over the late monarch.
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This Morning presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby were spotted in Westminster Hall last Friday, as people queued for up to 10 miles and for over 24 hours to see the Queen lying in state.
Schofield and Willoughby were widely accused of 'skipping' the line after being led to a press gallery for a separate viewing.
However, ITV explained Phil and Holly were there in a professional capacity to film a segment for This Morning. A spokesperson added they did not get VIP access to pay their respects to the Queen or skip the queue.
Nevertheless, a petition has since been started by Laura Harrison titled: "Axe Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby from TV."
The petition reads: "Thousands of people are lining up overnight to pay respects to the Queen, where they will likely wait up to 24 hours.
"Yet Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield, two hosts of one of the most damaging to mental health day time TV show This Morning, were able to push past those thousands and get immediate access.
"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.
"At the least though, these toxic presenters Holly and Philip should finally be removed from our TV screens. They monopolised way too long."
The petition has since amassed over 15,400 signatures with a goal post of reaching a massive 25,000
This Morning addressed the speculations on the programme today, with Holly saying: "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."
The TV presenter concluded: "Please know that we would never jump the queue."
This Morning has also come out in support for Schofield and Willoughby in an Instagram post that read: "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."
Topics: Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, TV and Film, The Queen, UK News, This Morning
Rhiannon Ingle