People are comparing it to Boris Johnson’s Partygate cover-up
This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have broken their silence 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.”
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!”
#ThisMorning aired this statement following anger aimed at the show’s presenters Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
“Please know we would never jump the queue.” pic.twitter.com/xwZTNx9kPK
— Scott Bryan (@scottygb) September 20, 2022
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.
“We didn’t jump the queue but appreciate how it looked.”
Is this year’s “It wasn’t a party but we appreciate how it looked.” 🤨#ThisMorning
— Rob Jeffries (@RobJeffries) September 20, 2022
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.
Absolutely hooting that Holy and Phil trashed their own reputations for a report so bad it included Holly saying the queue was "this ever-moving line which is in real contrast to the stillness of her" #ThisMorning
— Anita Singh (@anitathetweeter) September 20, 2022
There were memes aplenty in response to Holly and Phil’s statement, with one ‘wejumpanyqueue’ picture getting a lot of love.
Phil & Holly’s opening segment on #ThisMorning pic.twitter.com/L5DEkp0zQK
— Daniel Harper (@Dantastic_1987) September 20, 2022
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:
Absolutely screaming at this utter bullshit. “We would never jump the queue”. You literally did 🤣 #ThisMorning
— Alex G (@Giddzer) September 20, 2022
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
