Aimee Walker
Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield’s wellbeing has sparked ‘serious concerns’ amid the false ‘queue jumping’ allegations.
The This Morning presenters were wrongly accused of skipping the queue when they went to see the Queen lying in state last week.
This has led to ‘relentless trolling’, with a source reportedly informing The Mirror: “There are huge, real and serious concerns over their wellbeing and ITV is fully supporting them behind the scenes in the face of such relentless trolling.
Watch David Beckham attend the Queen’s lying in state below…
“The channel backs them 110 per cent.”
The source went on to tell The Mirror that Willoughby and Schofield have been left reassured by ITV and its ‘unwavering support’.
The insider is believed to have also said that Willoughby is very unlikely to quit This Morning, as she ‘adores her job’.
After Willoughby and Schofield were falsely accused of ‘queue jumping’, many people took to social media and criticised the stars, while one person even launched a petition.
Related Article: Piers Morgan Defends ‘Distraught’ Holly Willoughby And Phillip Schofield From ‘Queue Jumping’ Backlash
The appeal, which is on Change.org, was launched on September 18 and has amassed more 58,000 signatures.
The petition’s description reads: “Thousands of people are lining up overnight to pay respects to the Queen, where they will likely wait up to 24 hours.
“Yet Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield… were able to push past those thousands and get immediate access.
“ITV should be ashamed. I’d like to see This Morning axed for good.”
Amid the intense backlash, Willoughby appeared on the daytime programme and addressed the accusations.
She 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.
“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 took anyone’s places in the queue and no one filed past the Queen.
Related Article: This Morning Viewers Concerned For Holly Willoughby Amid Queen’s ‘Queue Jump’ Backlash
“We, of course, respected those rules, however, we realised that it may have looked like something else and therefore we totally understand the reaction.
“Please know that we would never jump a queue.”
ITV also released a statement, which reads: “Hello everyone, we would like to clarify something. We asked Phillip and Holly to be part of a film for 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.”
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