Fears Holly Willoughby could quit This Morning over queue jump controversy

The scandal has left Holly 'crying'

This Morning producers are said to be concerned that Holly Willoughby could feel forced to quit the show following accusations she and Phillip Schofield queue jumped to see the Queen lying in state. This Morning  broke their silence on Tuesday morning over the criticism they've faced since visiting the Queen's Lying-in-State at Westminster Hall. Phil, 60, and Holly, 41, have faced backlash after they were spotted walking past queuing mourners and paying their respects in a different line to the public, even leading to a petition to have the two presenters axed. ITV has since been forced to release a statement clarifying they were there in a professional capacity with "press accreditation", insisting: "They did not file past The Queen's coffin", adding: "Any allegations of improper behaviour are categorically untrue." [caption id="attachment_359378" align="alignnone" width="1198"] Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield at Westminster Hall (Image: BBC)[/caption] It has since been reported that there are fears Willoughby, who has been crying over the situation, could quit This Morning over the criticism. "Holly, in particular, has been left totally distraught by this," an insider said. "She’s been in floods of tears at some of the things she’s been called and of the behaviour she’s been accused of. "She’d never jump a queue or behave in that way and is heartbroken that people think she would." The source added to Mail Online: "Producers and staff at This Morning are rallying round. They are a close knit team but there is a concern at how it has impacted Holly and has left many wondering if it’s pushed her close to the exit." Willoughby and Schofield clarified claims of queue jumping during Tuesday’s episode of This Morning, stressing they did not take anyone’s place. Holly and Phillip appeared on Tuesday's This Morning after the show took a break so ITV could cover the Queen's funeral on 19 September. In a VT, they addressed the backlash, saying: "We were given special permission", adding: "Please know that we would never jump a queue!" https://twitter.com/scottygb/status/1572155315784916994?s=20&t=EPZdXnRrZPgvOZHuG7dXTQ But not everyone was buying their defiant defence. Posting on Twitter, Rob Jeffries compared it to Boris Johnson's Partygate cover-up in which he told Parliament that “no Covid rules were broken” and “all guidance was followed in No 10”. Eventually, dozens of police fines over Covid law-breaking in government buildings were issued by the Metropolitan Police. https://twitter.com/RobJeffries/status/1572150847290605571?s=20&t=NhOsEmV9dJN-EmL4aCqvAg Broadcaster Richard Chambers asked what the pair broadcast other than just them queuing, saying: "What they were supposed to be filming in the queue?" Anita Singh also suggested the footage obtained from their queue-jumping feat might not be all it's cracked up to be. https://twitter.com/anitathetweeter/status/1572155414623420418?s=20&t=NhOsEmV9dJN-EmL4aCqvAg There were memes aplenty in response to Holly and Phil's statement, with one 'wejumpanyqueue' picture getting a lot of love. https://twitter.com/Dantastic_1987/status/1572147412050890752?s=20&t=NhOsEmV9dJN-EmL4aCqvAg https://twitter.com/RyanGSoapKing11/status/1571398704652754944?s=20&t=NhOsEmV9dJN-EmL4aCqvAg Others seemed pretty baffled at their attempt to pull the wool over people's eyes: https://twitter.com/Giddzer/status/1572150881583243267?s=20&t=NhOsEmV9dJN-EmL4aCqvAg Related links:

• Prince Harry and Prince Andrew arrive at Queen's funeral wearing morning suit
• Why you have never seen a picture of the Queen pregnant - even though she has four children
• Behind-the-scenes photos show exhausted beefeaters taking a break from guarding Queen’s coffin
• Woman visits Queen’s coffin eight times in less than 24 hours