British TV hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield address claims they skipped queue to see Queen lying in state

British morning TV hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have addressed accusations they jumped the queue to see the Queen lying in state.

Holly and Phil came under fire for appearing to jump the queue. Picture: Fremantle

British morning TV hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have addressed accusations they jumped the queue to see the Queen lying in state.

The presenting duo said they “understood” why they received backlash after they used media passes to access Westminster Hall, while other celebrities queued for hours with members of the public.

Tuesday’s This Morning TV show opened with a montage of emotional moments since the Queen’s death, which included a clip from inside the hall, The Sun reported.

UK morning TV hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield have apologised over the scandal. Picture: ITV

Holly, 42, told viewers as the footage aired: “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.

“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.”

Holly and Phil came under fire for appearing to jump the queue. Picture: Fremantle

Members of the public file past the coffin of Queen Elizabeth II (Photo by Marko Djurica - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

A clip followed from outside Westminster Hall as Phil reflected on his visit and said: “That’s got to be one of the most profound moments of my life.”

However fans were left unimpressed by their explanation - branding it a “pathetic excuse”.

Dozens shared their frustration on Twitter after Holly and Phil, 60, addressed the backlash.

One viewer tweeted: “Pathetic excuse. The 3 of them @hollywills @Schofe #MartinFrizell seen a loophole to jump the queue. Since when do any of them go to an outside filming piece. Lost the last bit of trust they had with the viewers @itv #ThisMorning @thismorning”

Another raged: “They still Queue jumped. ‘we would never jumped the queue’ my a**e. They are not broadcasters, This morning is a talk show. Susanna Reid is a broadcaster for GMB and she waited hours like the rest of us. Holly and Phil have no shame, it’s a disgrace.”

As a third typed: “Well, one for the ‘Sorry if you thought it was wrong’ scrapbook. S**t explanation, they aren’t even journalists, it’s a magazine programme, no need to be there at all, let alone jump in.”

David Beckham was among the celebrities who queued up with everyone else to view the Queen lying in state.

This story was originally published by The Sun and was reproduced with permission