This Morning bosses deny Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield had ‘VIP access’ to Queen’s coffin

This Morning bosses have denied show hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield had ‘VIP access’ and filed ‘past the Queen lying in state’ as they filmed a segment for the programme at Westminster Hall in London on Friday.

The presenters cut sombre figures as they dressed in black and visited the Queen’s coffin to film for the upcoming episode which is due to air on Tuesday, the day after the late monarch’s state funeral.

With reports the five-mile long queue has been closed for six hours on Friday, boosting the wait time until ‘at least 14 hours’, the TV duo were said to have joined a separate queue and were taken into a press gallery.

Historical moment: They filmed a segment for the programme at Westminster Hall in London on Friday, with reports surfacing that they had cut queues and received special treatment

On Saturday evening, ITV bosses bosses posted a statement on Instagram which denied the pair had received special treatment: ‘Hello everyone, we would like to clarify something,’ it read.

‘We asked Phillip and Holly to be part of a film for this Tuesday’s programme.

‘They did not jump the queue, have VIP access of 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 air: The TV duo were said to have joined a separate queue and were taken into a press gallery (pictured on This Morning on Monday)

The broadcasters donned all black ensembles, with Holly, 41, in a face mask, as they made their way into the historic building where the late monarch lying in state following her death last week.  

A source told MailOnline: ‘They did not get to pay their respects to the Queen in the same way as queuing members of the public but they filmed in a section put aside for press. 

‘This Morning’s Friday show has been cancelled in favour of rolling ITV news coverage in the lead-up to the Queen’s state funeral. The programme will be back on screens on Tuesday.’

Sombre: It came amid reports the five-mile long queue for people to pay their respects to the Queen has been closed for six hours on Friday, boosting the wait time until ‘at least 14 hours’

Low-key: The This Morning presenters donned all black ensembles, with Holly in a face mask, as they made their way into the historic building to view the late monarch lying in state

Attire: Phillip, 60, opted to wear a smart black suit and tie for the visit, with the presenter sporting a glum look on his face as he followed behind his co-star

Phillip, 60, opted to wear a smart black suit and tie for the visit, with the presenter sporting a glum look on his face as he followed behind his co-star.

Socialite Lizzie Cundy furiously spoke out to defend her friend Phillip.

The former WAG, 54, who was married to former footballer Jason Cundy from 1994 to 2012, spoke out when TalkTV host James Whale asked her: ‘What’s your views on that filthy, disgusting person, Phillip Schofield?

Dedicated: It is estimated the number of people set to make the trip to see the Queen’s coffin could hit more than 350,000, with people from all over the world expected to visit London

‘Come on, answer the question. I know you know him quite well, it’s disgusting, isn’t it?

‘He pushed in the queue, he didn’t care.’

She replied: ‘I think whoever you are, an MP, a celebrity pushing in, it’s not Stringfellows, it’s not a nightclub where you go, “Oh my gosh, I’ve got a VIP pass where I can bring four mates in.”  

‘This is to give respect to our Queen, I’m not happy with anyone pushing in.’

James added: ‘I think Holly and Phil should be absolutely ashamed of themselves because they’re young and fit.

‘I think it’s appalling, what are they? TV presenters?’

Opinion: Socialite Lizzie Cundy, 54, furiously spoke out to defend her friend Phillip Schofield during an appearance on Talk TV this week

Lizzie responded: ‘I’m not happy with anyone pushing in, my boy queued for six hours.’

She added: ‘You’re talking about security, David Beckham is probably one of the most famous people on the planet, he queued.

‘I thought that was so good, why can’t Theresa May queue like the rest of us, get at the back of the line, get with everyone else.

‘They could do themselves some good by queueing, I felt really proud of David Beckham queuing today.’

James said: ‘I wish you’d take this delay into consideration Lizzie, otherwise we’ll fall out. When you see your friend Schofield later tell him, I think he’s a complete and utter prat.’  

Grief: It comes after their fellow ITV daytime star Susanna Reid queued for more than seven hours to view the Queen’s coffin this week

Crowds: Queues to see the late monarch doubled in length on Thursday and were snaking for four miles past Tower Bridge, after dropping to two miles overnight 

It comes after their fellow ITV daytime star Susanna Reid queued for more than seven hours to view the Queen’s coffin on its first day being on public view at Westminster Hall the day before.

Unlike Holly and Phil, she was not in attendance in a work capacity and went with family members who would not have been permitted to go into the press gallery.  

The Good Morning Britain Host, 51, took to Twitter to announce that she and her mother Sue had paid their respects to the late monarch as she lay in state.

She described the ‘historic’ moment as ‘majestic and peaceful’ as she revealed she had joined mourners in the massive queues, which had reached five miles in length.

She wrote: ‘Evening – along with my lovely mum and her very good friend, I have just experienced a moment in history – witnessing the Queen lying in state in Westminster Hall. At once majestic and peaceful.’

It is estimated the number of people set to make the trip could hit more than 350,000, with people from all over the world expected to visit London to pay their respects.   

Reflection: On Monday, Holly told how she was ‘really touched’ by messages her children wrote to the Queen following her death

Therapeutic: Willoughby said she had urged her children to write to the Queen as a way of processing the news (pictured, son Harry’s message) 

Moving: Holly said that reading them back after the visit had “really touched” her (pictured, daughter Belle’s letter to the Queen) 

On Monday, Holly told how she was ‘really touched’ by messages her children wrote to the Queen following her death and admits she urged them to write letters as a means of processing the news. 

The presenter encouraged her three children with producer husband Dan Baldwin – Harry, 13, Belle, 11, and Chester, seven – to put down their feelings in writing after a visit to Buckingham Palace on the weekend to pay their respects.  

Speaking on This Morning, she reflected on the impact of the Queen’s death with her co-host Phil before reading their messages to viewers. 

Willoughby said she had urged her children to write to the Queen as a way of processing the news.

Speaking about how she had explained the ideas of service and duty to youngest child Chester, the presenter added: ‘I was trying to explain to him that whatever her passions and her loves (were) from being a little girl, this was where she was destined to go, what she was destined to do.

‘All of her own passions had to be put on the backburner for her country. Chester, he loves football but that would not be something he would get to do and it was giving him that level of understanding.’

Respects: The presenter visited Buckingham Palace with her three children at the weekend, after which she encouraged them to put their feelings down on paper 

Source: | Dailymail.co.uk