Petition to axe Phil and Holly from This Morning over Queen's funeral passes 30,000 signatures

A petition to axe Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield from This Morning has surpassed 30,000 signatures.

The presenters have come under fire after they appeared to skip the gigantic queue to visit the Queen's funeral at Westminster Hall on Friday (16 September).

Following an angry backlash, the presenters denied the claims, and said on yesterday's (Monday 20 September) episode of the ITV show that they realised 'it may have looked like something else'.

In a voiceover of a segment on the Queen, Holly explained: "Like 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 we would be quickly escorted around the edges to a platform at the back."

She continued: "In contrast, those paying respects walked along a carpeted area beside the coffin, and were given time to pause.

"None of the broadcasters or journalists there took anyone's place in the queue and no one filed past the Queen.

"We of course respected those rules, however we realised that it may have looked like something else and therefore totally understand the reaction."

This Morning has also come out in support of Schofield and Willoughby in an Instagram post that read: "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."

Regardless, a petition to have them - and the show - axed has reached almost 32,000 signatures at the time of writing.

The petition 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, two hosts of one of the most damaging to mental health day time TV show This Morning, were able to push past those thousands and get immediate access. 

"ITV should be ashamed of exploiting the situation.

"I'd like to see This Morning axed for good as I do believe it causes more harm than good, without people noticing.

"For example, like turning cost of living anxiety into a game show.

"At the least though, these toxic presenters Holly and Philip should finally be removed from our TV screens. They monopolised way too long."

LADbible has contacted ITV for comment.

Featured Image Credit: ITV/BBC

Topics: Holly Willoughby, Phillip Schofield, TV and Film, UK News, The Queen

Jake Massey

Jake Massey is a journalist at LADbible. He graduated from Newcastle University, where he learnt a bit about media and a lot about living without heating. After spending a few years in Australia and New Zealand, Jake secured a role at an obscure radio station in Norwich, inadvertently becoming a real-life Alan Partridge in the process. From there, Jake became a reporter at the Eastern Daily Press. Jake enjoys playing football, listening to music and writing about himself in the third person.

@jakesmassey