This Morning has been hit with a string of Ofcom complaints amid 'queuegate'.
Hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were falsely accused of jumping the queue as they attended the Queen's lying in state at Westminster Hall to report on the event. The pair were there to film a segment for their ITV show, as they wanted to be able to bring footage and interviews from the event as not everyone was able to attend.
The duo came under fire from fans of the show amid false claims they jumped the queue and a petition was started to call for them to be axed over what happened. The pair were there as accredited broadcasters and their footage was featured in the show last week.
Ofcom has now confirmed it has received 55 complaints this week in the wake of what happened, as angry viewers continue to call for the TV presenting duo to apologise. It follows over 209 complaints being made the previous week amid the drama, as angry viewers hit out at their Spin to Win competition segment. Before that, a further 170 complaints were made.
A representative for the ITV show has been contacted by The Mirror.
The pair had previously released a lengthy statement, insisting they would never jump a queue.
On their show, alongside photos and videos from them reporting from Westminster Hall, Holly said in a pre-recorded message: "We were given official permission to access the hall, it was strictly for 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 respect stood on a carpeted area beside the coffin and were given time to pause.
"None of the broadcasters or journalists there took anyone's place in the queue and no one filed past the Queen."
She concluded: "We, of course, respected those rules. However, we realised it may have looked like something else and therefore totally understand the reaction. Please know we would never jump the queue."
At the time, ITV confirmed in a statement that the pair were not given any special treatment or VIP access.
A post on their social media page read: "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."
Since then, ITV's boss has spoken out to defend the pair, as they were just there in their professional capacity.
ITV's Chief Executive Dame Carolyn McCall jumped to their defence, adding: "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 has also insisted the pair's jobs are safe on the ITV show, despite calls for them to be sacked.
