This Morning has been hit with over 50 Ofcom complaints amid Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield’s ongoing queue-jump drama.
The ITV daytime programme received 55 complaints relating to its September 20 show, when hosts Holly and Phil addressed claims that they’d skipped the Queen’s lying-in-state queue.
Ofcom has issued a statement which read: “Complaints related to Philip Schofield and Holly Willoughby’s explanation of their prior broadcast from Westminster Hall during the mourning period for Queen Elizabeth II.”
READ MORE: Bar offers free queue jump if ‘your name is Holly or Phil’ amid This Morning row
The pair sparked a furious backlash when photos emerged of them ahead of the massive queues outside Westminster, which saw many queue through the night to visit the late monarch.
(Image: ITV)
Many threatened to boycott the show and some people even suggested they should be sacked from their hosting jobs.
ITV issued a statement shortly after to explain that the duo didn’t jump the queues and were both there to cover the event as part of the media.
Holly and Phil then broke their silence on the queue drama on their September 20 show alongside a pre-recorded film.
Reading the statement, Holly said: “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.
(Image: ITV)
“None of the broadcasters and journalists there took anyone’s place in the queue and no one filed past the Queen.”
She added: “We, of course, respected those rules – however, we realise that it may have looked like something else.
“And therefore, totally understand the reaction.”
The pre-recorded piece angered viewers at the time, with many slamming the show on Twitter during the broadcast.
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
One fumed: “Seriously you can’t even address the issue live..it has to be pre recorded?! The execs of #ThisMorning and @hollywills and @Schofe have handled this terribly and are so out of touch with the people!”
Another wrote: “I’ve turned off!!Those two are unbearable, no apology and again hashing up the same things a day late! We need a completely new line up and format.”
For the latest breaking news and stories from across the globe from the Daily Star, sign up for our newsletter by clicking here
READ NEXT:
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
