Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby have been "misrepresented" over claims they skipped the queue for the Queen's lying in state, according to the chief executive of ITV. Dame Carolyn McCall instead praised the duo’s work for the broadcaster, adding they were always safe in their jobs.
This is despite an online petition to have them fired amassed 75,000 signatures. The This Morning presenters have been targeted on social media since claims were made they jumped the public queue to pay their respects in Westminster Hall earlier this month.
Following these accusations, ITV stressed the duo attended as members of the media to film a segment for the following Tuesday’s show. Upon being asked what Phil and Holly had done wrong at the RTS London Convention, Dame Carolyn responded: "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."
The former chief executive of easyJet also dismissed the notion they had been “cancelled”, 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."
Both presenters were said to not be "feeling great" after Dame Carolyn had texted both. She said: "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."
Dame Carolyn added she had complained to Domino's Pizza, after the brand tweeted a satirical post about the pair skipping a queue to order one of their pizzas. She continued: "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."
