This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have returned to the ITV studio following the storm surrounding their visit to Westminster Hall. The pair have faced criticism on social media this week after they were wrongly accused of jumping the queue to see the Queen Lying-in-State.
Tuesday's show kicked off with a special segment reflecting on the Queen's reign and beautiful memories from viewers, it also shared snippets of Holly and Phil's trip to Westminster with the pair then offering an explanation. It comes after a photograph appeared to show the daytime television hosts in a fast track lane to pay their respects to the monarch, which further caused anger after fellow celebrities Susanna Reid and David Beckham waited many hours in line with members of the public.
In a pre-recorded message, Holly 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 haven't been able to visit Westminster in person.
Read more: ITV's This Morning to return with Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield after cancellations
"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. None of the broadcasters and journalists there took anyone's place in the queue and no one filed past the Queen."
Holly continued: "We, of course, respected those rules, however, we realise it may have looked like something else and therefore totally understand the reaction. Please know, we would never jump a queue."
The presenter's explanation comes after This Morning issued a statement on Sunday, September 18. Posted on the programme's Instagram account, it 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."
Despite the explanation, both presenters have been targeted by trolls on Twitter. Some viewers took to social media to say they would be boycotting the show, while others supported the pair following the unfair treatment.
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