THIS Morning viewers have threatened to boycott the show after ITV bosses defended “queue jumpers” Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby.
The presenters are under fire after being seen at Westminster Hall where the Queen is lying-in-state – without joining the long queue like David Beckham and Susanna Reid.
This Morning’s presenters have sparked controversy
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield cut sombre figures as they viewed the Queen’s coffin at Westminster Hall
Amid the backlash, the This Morning bosses rushed to their defence, explaining they were working as journalists at the historic event.
“Any allegations of improper behaviour are categorically untrue,” an ITV spokesman said.
However, viewers are still claiming they won’t be watching when the daytime show returns on Tuesday.
One said: “Time for EVERYBODY to boycott #ThisMorning, their behaviour was despicable. Elderly men and women queuing but these 2 think they are too good for that. #queuejumpers.”
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Another added: “I’m so angered by Holly & Phil jumping the queue today. They don’t work Fridays so no excuses. A pair of overrated TV presenters! Disgusting. I won’t watch or buy anything they are associated with. #boycott.”
Some This Morning fans agreed the hosts were being unfairly criticised, having picked up press passes so they could film inside for a segment on Tuesday.
One asked: “Why are people digging out Schofield and Holly? Weren’t they there for tv purposes?”
Another asked: “You don’t know why they were allowed to do this, so why people are slagging them off is beyond me… & people saying they are never gonna watch #ThisMorning again… please of course they will..”
Someone else said: “Who’s ready to boycott This Morning from Tuesday? We can show OUR respect for what they did. ITS OUTRAGEOUS. People queuing for +12HRS in the cold & rain and they can just jump the queue. Disgusting.”
More than one million people have waited hours to pay their respects to the late monarch at Westminster Hall.
But Holly and Phil were able to avoid hours of queuing because they were let in to film a segment for their show.
ITV insists they “did not file past the Queen’s coffin”, but were being escorted to work from the press gallery by government staff.
It’s the second time in as many weeks that Holly and Phil have sparked controversy.
The pair were slammed online for introducing paying for energy bills as a prize on the Spin to Win wheel.
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An ITV spokesperson said: “This Morning had press accreditation and like other media, Phillip and Holly were escorted to work from the press gallery by government staff.
“They did not file past The Queen’s coffin. They were there alongside a host of other broadcasters and national press outlets for an item that will be broadcast on Tuesday’s show. Any allegations of improper behaviour are categorically untrue.”
