The backlash that followed a picture of ITV This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield at the Queen's lying in state has been tremendous. Eamonn Holmes has now been reported to have issued a cryptic response to the situation following suggestions Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield should be 'sacked'.
Assumed to have been 'skipping the queue' the pair, who deny the allegation, came under attack from some members of the public as well as tv personalities. Even Donimo's Pizza was highlighted as 'winning the internet' after fans picked up on a joke at the morning show hosts' expense.
Celebrities, television personalities and sporting stars were spotted in the queue waiting to pay their respects to the Queen including David Beckham. This Morning issued a statement following intense backlash 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." The duo have also released a statement clarifying their position and insisting they "understood" the anger people felt but said they went for everyone who "couldn't go".
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Since then, a petition has been filed calling for them both to be sacked and it has already gained thousands of signatures, reports the Liverpool Echo. Adding that former This Morning presenter and current GB News rival Eamonn Holmes commented on the topic after he was caught up in a Twitter thread suggesting he and his wife, Loose Women's Ruth Langsford, should take their positions.
The original comment said: "I always preferred @EamonnHolmes and @RuthieeL #ThisMorning." Replying to the tweet, another user added: "They should be sacked - Eamonn and Ruth are far better."
Eamonn replied to the thread with a cryptic message of his own - three praying hands emoji together. In another comment, he said: "Ha ha... nice one." The 62-year-old already hit out at the situation after the story broke during his Breakfast programme. His co-host, Isabel Webster, welcomed a guest "who suffered that queue and they were not of any insignificant age" before being interrupted. Eamonn added: "What, Holly and Phillip?"
In a recent This Morning show, Holly Willoughby issued an official statement explaining the situation. She said: "Like hundreds of 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 have not been able to visit Westminster in person. The rules were that we would be quickly escorted around the edges to a platform at the back. In contrast, those paying respect walked along a carpeted area beside the coffin and were given time to pause."
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