The chief executive of ITV has spoken out on the 'queue-gate' drama that has engulfed two of its biggest stars, Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, this week. The This Morning hosts came under fire from viewers earlier this month after being accused of skipping the queue to see the Queen lying in state.
However, the ITV daytime show quickly hit back at the claims that their presenters skipped the queue, which at its peak reached a 14-hour wait for those wanting to pay their final respects to Queen Elizabeth II following her death on September 8, aged 96.
On Friday, September 16. Holly, 41, looked emotional as she tied her long blonde locks back with a black scrunchie and wore a matching black mask as she went inside Westminster Hall where hundreds of thousands filed through past the Queen's coffin over four days.
Phillip was seen walking behind her in a smart black suit and tie for the visit, with the presenter sporting a sombre look on his face. The day after they were spotted, This Morning issued a statement on the programme’s Instagram account. It said: “Hello everyone, we would like to clarify something. We asked Phillip and Holly to be part of a film for this Tuesday’s programme.
"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." Then, a couple of days later following the Queen's state funeral, the pair returned to screens and issued another explanation.
Holly addressed the outrage in a video documenting the events of the last couple of weeks, from finding out the Queen had died right up until the late monarch's funeral. During the VT, the mum-of-three could be heard saying in a voiceover as footage showed them outside Westminster Hall: "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 haven't 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 respects walked along a carpeted area beside the coffin and were given time to pause." She continued: "None of the broadcasters and journalists there took anyone's place in the queue and no one filed passed the Queen. We, of course, respected those rules, however, we realise that it may have looked like something else and therefore totally understand the reaction."
However, since then, a petition to see the pair 'axed' from the show has hit a milestone. At the time of writing, more than 75,000 people had signed the Change.org petition with a new target of 150,000. But the head of ITV has now also hit back saying Holly and Phillip have been “misrepresented” over claims they skipped the queue for the Queen’s lying in state.
Dame Carolyn McCall said the This Morning co-presenters were safe in their jobs, despite an online petition to have them fired, and praised their work for the broadcaster. Speaking at the RTS London Convention, Dame Carolyn was asked what they did wrong. She replied: “Honestly, nothing. Honestly. They did have accreditation. Lots of people saying they didn’t. They were sent by This Morning to do a piece for September 20, which ran.
"They were to interview people inside and outside. They didn’t displace anyone in the queue. And they’ve been very misrepresented, actually. And that’s why we made a statement. Unusually, we made a statement to say all of those things. But it does show you how things spread and how misinformation just spreads. And it is really horrible for them."
Dame Carolyn dismissed the idea they had been “cancelled”, before adding: “I think they’re highly relevant and still very topical, and I think the majority of their viewers love watching them. But there is a very shrill kind of voice against and it will hurt them."
Confirming the duo are secure in the jobs at This Morning, Dame Carolyn added that she had texted both and that they were not “feeling great”. She added: “It’s hard. You imagine yourself in the eye of the storm like this, where you’re trying to say you’ve done nothing wrong and all the noise around you is saying that you have. It’s difficult to handle.”
She also revealed that ITV had complained to Domino's after the pizza delivery company used the outrage to put out a 'funny' tweet mocking the debacle. She said: “We just said to them, ‘What are you doing?’ because we work with Domino’s and they said, ‘We think it is really funny, don’t you?’
"They just thought that was funny. They didn’t think of the impact that would have on how people would pick it up and start meme-ing it. I think that’s what happens with these things which are … They did not do anything wrong. They were with loads of other broadcasters, many of whom you know, and they were with lots of press journalists."
READ NEXT:
- Holly Willoughby 'can't bear it' as she struggles through ITV This Morning viewer's emotional call
- ITV This Morning star Deidre Sanders diagnosed with breast cancer after missing mammogram
- Alison Hammond's son makes rare ITV This Morning appearance as she breaks down on air
- ITV This Morning viewers baffled as Holly Willoughby comforts bride who went ahead with her wedding without groom
- Alice Beer annoys ITV This Morning viewers with microwave comments before showing £419 appliance
