Holly Willoughby will not quit her role as host of This Morning, following a huge queue-jumping row - an insider claims.
The 41-year-old ITV presenter and co-host Phillip Schofield, 60, found themselves accused of skipping the queue to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state on Friday, but ITV later clarified that the duo were visiting in a professional capacity to film for the breakfast show.
Despite the revelation, many were still left outraged by the pair's actions, demanding that they should apologise live on air when the show made its return.
Read more: Holly Willoughby denies 'queue jump' accusations with defiant This Morning defence
The Mirror reports that now, an ITV source has confirmed that Holly will not leave her post, after addressing the controversial situation on Tuesday's instalment of This Morning. They told The Sun: "Holly will not quit.
"She has been devastated by all the negative reaction after she turned up to work at Westminster Hall with Phil on Friday, but she's not going to resign. This Morning has been her life for more than a decade and the only way she'd consider quitting at this stage is if viewers really didn't want her there.
"She's tried to give their side of the story on the show today and they're both hoping to move on from it now."
The source also went on to say that the show bosses know Holly is a 'hit with viewers' and are counting on her remaining host 'for a good while yet'. This comes after Holly and Phil were criticised heavily on social media, after appearing inside Westminster Hall on Friday without publicly queueing.
Programme bosses later revealed in a statement that the duo were attending to film a segment for the show in advance.
During the special edition reflecting on the days since the Queen’s death, aired today, Willoughby said in a voiceover: “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.
“None of the broadcasters and journalists there took anyone’s place in the queue and no-one filed past 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. Please know that we would never jump a queue."
This Morning previously addressed the visit in a statement posted on Instagram on Saturday, saying: “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.”
Some media and MPs were able to bypass the queue and access Westminster Hall during the roughly four-day lying in state. During that period, the queue swelled in size and at some points reached a wait time of “at least 24 hours”.
The lying in state was also broadcast live 24/7 by a number of broadcasters including the BBC and Sky News.
Read next:
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Eamonn Holmes aims dig at Phillip and Holly after queue jump denial
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Kate Middleton wears Queen's pearl choker and earrings for funeral in fitting tribute
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Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie spark Queen's funeral confusion over 'early' exit
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BBC's Huw Edwards takes swipe at Westminster Hall 'queue jumpers' after Phillip and Holly denial
