Holly Willoughby has denied that she and Phillip Schofield “jumped in line” to see the Queen’s coffin at Westminster Hall and told This Morning viewers that she and her co-host “never” did anything like it would do.
The presenting couple ended up in hot water with plenty of people online on Friday afternoon when they were spotted in a separate queue to the public by people watching the BBC live feed of the Queen, who was in state, and critics immediately blamed them of “pushing”. in ‘, when the likes of David Beckham and Susanna Reid stood in line for hours alongside everyone else.
A spokesman for the hosts immediately denied the allegations, saying: “They could not pay their respects to the Queen like the members of the public waiting in line, but they were filming in an area reserved for the press.” This Morning then published issued a statement on Saturday night that took the same stance, writing: “Hi everyone, we would like to clarify something. We asked Phillip and Holly to be part of a film for this Tuesday’s programme.
CONTINUE READING : Huw Edwards calls Westminster Hall a ‘queue jumper’ in a BBC dig.
“They did not queue, have VIP access or walk past the Queen who was in state – but were there in a professional capacity as part of the world media to cover the event.”
And now Holly herself has tackled the allegations against her and Phillip head-on, in an article that aired just before This Morning began on Tuesday. Footage of Phillip and Holly speaking to people in the queue and then speaking on camera outside the hall played on screen as she said: “Like hundreds of accredited broadcasters and journalists, we received official permission to close the hall enter. It was for the sole purpose of covering the event for the millions of people in the UK who were unable to visit Westminster in person.
(Image: BBC)
Holly continued: “The rules were we were quickly escorted around the perimeter to a platform in the back. In contrast, the people paying respect walked on a carpeted area next to the coffin and were given time to pause. None of the broadcasters and journalists there took anyone’s place in line and of course no one walked past the Queen.”
She finished: “We obviously respected those rules, but we know it might have looked different and so we totally understand the reaction. Please know we would never jump in line.
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