Popular UK TV hosts face backlash for queue jumping to view Queen's coffin, TV network shuts down the claim

  • 19/09/2022
"Celebrities are not important and never be put before anyone."
"Celebrities are not important and never be put before anyone." Photo credit: ITV

UK morning TV hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have recently come under fire for queue jumping to view the Queen's coffin, but their network ITV has shut down the rumour. 

This Morning hosts Willoughby and Schofield were pictured inside Westminster Hall viewing Queen Elizabeth's body lying in state, the Daily Telegraph UK reports the pair wore VIP lanyards around their neck.

And since members of the public have pointed to the likes of David Beckham and Susanna Reid for enduring the lengthy queues, raising the question if they could - along with millions of others - why couldn't the hosts?

"Celebrities are not important and never be put before anyone," tweeted one person. 

"David Beckham joined the queue with members of the public for 12 hours. I have far more respect for him for doing that than I do for those who used the fast-track VIP line, like Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield," tweeted another. 

"Take a leaf out of true Superstar, Celebrity, Brit, David Beckham’s book, you losers."

Another shared a picture of the breakfast morning hosts, saying members of their family were "ushered out of @hollywills and @Schofe way so they could #queuejumpers w/o (without) even a thanks". 

ITV has since issued a statement in a bid to "clarify something".

"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." 

On the day of the pair's visit, it's believed the queue stretched for 8km and forced a temporary closure at the time after reaching capacity.