A JOURNALIST has blown apart Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield’s claims that they did not “jump the queue” to see the late Queen Elizabeth II lying in state at Westminster Hall on Friday.
Willoughby, 41 and Schofield, 60 came back on air after the state funeral of Queen Elizabeth II on Tuesday, and refused to apologise for allegedly pushing a disabled mother out of the queue so they could file past the Queen – as claimed by multiple eye-witnesses.
As the pair denied queue jumping, with Holly producing a piece of pro-This Morning propaganda, she insisted they would “never jump a queue” as they addressed their controversial visit to see the Queen lying in state.
Willoughby said during a VT: “Like hundreds of accredited broadcasters and journalists we were given official permission to access the hall.”
“None of the broadcasters and journalists there took anyone’s place in the queue and no one filed past the Queen. We of course respected those rules.”
“However, we realise that it may have looked like something else, and therefore totally understand the reaction. Please know that we would never jump a queue.”
Later, shock video footage emerged online that revealed Phillip, Holly and This Morning’s editor Martin Frizell clearly queue jumped as thousands wait in line.
Footage also showed Phillip and Holly filing past the Queen – proving Holly’s statement was a lie.
Nadine Batchelor-Hunt – an accredited journalist who works for Yahoo News UK hit back at Holly and Phil’s claim that they were in Westminster for journalistic purposes.
Responding to a Tweet where Mia Froggatt claimed her disabled mother was “ushered out” of the queue for the Queen for Phillip and Holly, Nadine ripped apart the ITV propaganda.
She wrote on Twitter: “Journalists (including broadcast) were told to go to a specific location to then be taken together as a group to the press viewing area/platform (I’ve circled myself here)”
“I’m not sure why they were ushered through the line of mourners if they were there for press reasons…?”
She also questioned the validity of the “broadcasting reasons” claim responding to The Chase’s Anne Heggerty: “And just on this, we were told you weren’t even allowed to take your phone out your pocket to check it – let alone do a piece to camera.”
Another user also claimed that the reason Holly and Phil appeared to “walk faster” after filing past the Queen’s coffin is because a member of the public may have questioned the pair’s apparent queue jumping.
Steve Clarke replied to Politicalite: “I wonder if the old couple they passed said something? After that Holly sped up noticeably, Phil looked really awkward. Perhaps they suddenly realised what the perception would be and just wanted to get out of there.”
“Holly also glances up at the camera. Something definitely spooked them.”
“It’s at that point Holly turns around, to either look at the lady in black, or perhaps comment to Phil.”
“Phil immediately looks up at the camera, Holly speeds up and then she also looks at the camera. They knew…”
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HOLLY “THREATENED TO QUIT”
Willoughby sparked even more outrage on social media this morning after the ITV show doubled down it’s denials on Queue-Jump-Gate as 15,000 Brits signed a petition for Holly and co-star Phillip Schofield to be sacked.
Telly sources told Politicalite: “Philip and Holly are dumbstruck at the level of anger they’ve received in the past few days.”
“They’ve been left astonished at the way the whole thing has mushroomed. They felt ITV should have made it clearer, right away, that it was part of a broadcast.”
“Holly, in particular, has been left totally distraught by this. She’s been in floods of tears at some of the things she’s been called and of the behaviour she’s been accused of.”
The insider went on to detail how Holly has been left “heartbroken” that “people think she would behave” in that way.
They are a close knit team but there is a concern at how it has impacted on Holly and has left many wondering if it’s pushed her close to the exit,” the source concluded.
An ITV spokesperson denied the claims and told Politicalite that there are ”no plans” for Holly to quit the show.”
More follows.
