Petition to sack Holly and Phil from screens following queuegate nears 75,000 signatures

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have been criticised by This Morning viewers over their lack of apology over 'queuegate', when they skipped the queue to see the Queen lying in state

02:11, 27 Sep 2022

This Morning: Holly Willoughby addresses claims of queue jumping

An online petition to sack Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield from This Morning following 'queuegate' has hit almost 75,000 signatures.

The petition was started after clips surfaced of the ITV presenters walking to the front of the queue in Westminster Hall, where the Queen's coffin was held.

Around 250,000 people had joined the queue to say their final goodbyes to the former monarch, with some members of the public waiting for up to 24 hours outside in icy temperatures.

Many other celebrities also waited in the queue, including David Beckham and Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid, which cast speculation over Holly and Phil's excuse of being granted a press pass.

Despite acknowledging the backlash, Holly and Phil have insisted there was no wrongdoing on their part, simply stating that they "understand the reaction" but they were ushered to the front to work as broadcasters.

[Clips of Holly and Phil "skipping" the queue have been shared far and wide]

Clips of Holly and Phil 'skipping' the queue have been shared far and wide(Image: ITV)

Last week Holly said: "Like hundreds of accredited broadcasters and journalists, we were given official permission to access the hall.

"It was strictly for the purposes 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 we would be quickly escorted around the edges to a platform at the back. In contrast, those paying respects walked around a carpeted area beside the coffin and were given time to pause.

"None of the journalists or broadcasters there took anyone's place in the queue and no one passed by the Queen.

"We, of course, respected those rules, however, we realise it may have looked like something else. Therefore, (we) totally understand the reaction. Please know, that we would never jump a queue."

[Fans of This Morning have called for the pair to be axed]

Fans of This Morning have called for the pair to be axed(Image: S Meddle/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

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However, many viewers didn't believe in the legitimacy of the pair's reasons, with the online petition, titled "Axe Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby from TV" almost signed by 75,000 people.

The creator of the petition, Laura Harrison, said: "In most industries one or two complaints made against staff or their employer, would be enough for their managers to raise concerns and check what happened, for apologies to be made, and in some cases, grievances.

"In precarious gig economy roles, those one or two complaints can cost people their jobs, and if three hundred complained about one or two members of staff, Im sure it wouldnt go unnoticed by their managerial board.

"So how is it that in the entertainment industry they can avoid so many people asking for change?

"This isnt just a petition about a queue-jump. Its about the need for change, for hope, for something else than daytime TV and questionable journalism. Daytime TV shows are designed to keep people incarcerated. But people deserve better than that."

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