Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield win at National Television Awards with This Morning after queue backlash-Louise Griffin-Entertainment – Metro

Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby took to the stage at the National Television Awards, as This Morning picked up the daytime award after they faced major backlash in recent weeks.

Following the Queen’s death, Holly and Phil were accused of jumping the queue to see the late monarch lying in state. They later denied the claims, clarifying that they were there as part of the world’s media, that they didn’t take anyone else’s spot, and they would never jump a queue.

Despite the backlash, This Morning picked up the coveted award at the event, with Holly and Phil accepting the award along with Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary.

Phil said: ‘Please don’t thnk we ever get complacent and please don’t think we ever take this for granted. This means so much to us every year, especially this year. We have the most amazing team, I have the best friend, we have the best boss.’

Holly went on to speak about This Morning’s ‘special relationship’ with its audience.

‘You make our show for us, you really do,’ she added.

Phil said the This Morning team don’t take the win for granted (Picture: ITV)

Meanwhile, Alison, who moments before had lost out on the best presenter gong to Ant and Dec, left fans in stitches as she referenced the award.

‘We all know I should have won one of these as well!’ she quipped.

It’s been a dramatic couple of weeks for Holly after she and co-star Phillip Schofield found themselves in hot water following their visit to the Queen’s coffin while she was lying in state.

The TV duo were accused of ‘jumping the queue’ outside Westminster Hall to see Her Majesty’s coffin following her death aged 96 on September 8.

Some mourners queued for over 13 hours to pay their respects, including stars like David Beckham, leading to outrage when Holly and Phil appeared to skip the line on September 16.

During their next This Morning appearance on September 20, the pair opened the programme by addressing the backlash.

Holly said over a clip featuring footage of their visit: ‘The rules were that we would be quickly escorted around the edges to a platform at the back. In contrast, those paying their respects walked along a carpeted area beside the coffin and were given time to pause.

‘None of the journalists and broadcasters there took anyone’s place in the queue and no one filed past the Queen.’

She continued: ‘We, of course, respected those rules, however, we realise that it may have looked like something else and therefore totally understand the reaction. Please know that we would never jump a queue.’

ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall has since insisted Holly and Phil were ‘misinterpreted’.

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