Eamonn Holmes has accused Phillip Schofied and Holly Willoughby of ‘lying’ about not skipping the queue at the Queen’s funeral.
The presenters were widely criticized when they were accused of skipping the line to see the Queen lying in state, and a petition calling for their resignation garnered 80,000 signatures.
However, Holly and Phillip said at the time that they were there in a journalistic capacity to cover the event for This Morning and did not skip the line.
Their former This Morning colleague Eamonn has now questioned this, asking why footage of their coverage of the funeral never materialized.
During Dan Wootton Tonight on GB News, he said, ‘Let’s go to the Queen’s funeral – they were there to make a film about the Queen’s funeral.
Claims: Eamonn Holmes has accused Phillip Schofied and Holly Willoughby of ‘lying’ about not skipping the line at the Queen’s funeral
Controversy: The presenters received a wave of criticism when they were accused of skipping the line to see the Queen laid out in state, and a petition calling for their resignation garnered 80,000 signatures
“Have you seen the movie?” he asked host Dan Wootton, who replied, “There was no movie.”
Eamonn said, “Well, apparently they were there to make that, that’s the program’s editor’s official line. They were there to make a movie.
‘Unless there’s any documentary evidence of this, I’d like to tell you, that’s another lie!
“Phillip Schofield admits he’s lying, ITV is lying, the place is a den of inequality.”
MailOnline has contacted representatives from ITV and Holly Willoughby for comment.
Phillip and Holly previously addressed claims they skipped the line on an episode of This Morning.
Holly said, “Like hundreds of accredited journalists, we were allowed to enter the hall.
“The rules were that we would be escorted quickly through an entrance and not past the box.
Skeptical: Eamonn asked why footage of them covering the funeral never appeared, accusing ITV of ‘lying’
Explanation: Holly and Phil said at the time they were there in a journalistic capacity to cover the event for This Morning and did not skip the line
“None of the broadcasters and journalists took anyone’s place in line.
“Of course we respected their opinion. Please know we would never jump in line.”
Phillip has now left the show amid uproar over his fling with a much younger male colleague, but commentators point to public anger over September’s “queue gate” as the start of his downfall.
On Friday, Phillip admitted he had lied about the relationship, leaving ITV in trouble and losing millions of pounds in sponsorship deals in the aftermath.
Eamonn also shared how his wife Ruth Langsford is still in touch with Phil’s ex-lover, whom he described as a “lovely dude” but added that “life is tough” for him.
Speaking of the scandal engulfing ITV, Eamonn said: ‘It’s a total cover-up. The authorities had to know.
“They had to know what was going on and they thought they would dodge the bullet, which they did and they do that all the time.
“I’m just here to speak for people who didn’t have a voice… I speak for them.”
MailOnline has approached ITV for comment.
Eamonn said: ‘Phillip Schofield admits he’s lying, ITV is lying, the place is a den of inequality’ (pictured with Ruth Langsford, Holly and Phillip)
Sources close to Phillip said of the interview, “Phillip is not in a great place right now. If Eamonn Holmes wants to be so cruel to someone in Phillip’s position, I think that says more about Eamonn than Phillip.”
Kevin Lygo, ITV’s director of media and entertainment, declined to answer questions about Schofield after being chased in the street by a GB News producer.
Outside a station he was asked if the affair had been covered up, but Mr Lygo walked off, telling the producer, “We really have nothing more to say.”
ITV has insisted it launched an investigation in 2020 after rumors circulated about Phillip’s affair with a younger male employee.
The broadcaster insists both parties have been interviewed, but according to sources close to Phillip’s former lover, he was never questioned on the matter.
Phillip broke his silence, slamming a “handful of people” with “persistently loud voices” and dismissing claims that there was a “toxic” culture on the show.
In a statement posted to his Instagram, the 61-year-old presenter said: “Now that I’m no longer working on This Morning, I’m free to say this. I hope you’ve noticed that it’s the same handful of people with a grudge against me or the show who seem to have the loudest voice.
“This Morning IS the best show to work on, with the best people. In all the years I worked, there was no toxicity.
“You can listen to those persistently loud voices if you want. But the thousands of guests over the years, thousands of staff and crew members, hundreds of presenters and contributors all know: it IS a family of wonderful, talented, nice, hard, working people.”
Shortly after the statement, Eamonn, who had been Phillip’s critic for several years, released his own thoughts.
The 63-year-old tweeted: ‘Schofield has just issued a delusional statement. Like Holly, he puts it on Insta Stories, so if it goes wrong, there’s no record after 24 hours.
“I’m reluctant to give the liar any more publicity, but believe me, Pip, if you’re looking for a fight, you picked the wrong person!”
He and Phillip were never close, but appreciated each other’s broadcasting styles and worked alongside each other professionally.
But in 2019, the couple fell out after Eamonn’s wife Ruth Langsford made an official complaint against Phillip when he interrupted her on-air as she explained what was going on on her part of This Morning.
Phillip said, “Guys, we’re going to have to jump in and hold you back, I’m afraid, because we’re a little short on time on this side. Thank you, Ruth.’
A clearly unimpressed Ruth replied, “Well, I only had two words left to say.”
In February 2022, Eamonn publicly condemned Schofield on the matter, telling the Daily Mail’s Weekend magazine that his wife was one of many people in the television industry who had been “disapproved” by the presenter.
He said, “Phillip is known for snubbing people. He is very passive-aggressive.
“It’s up to Ruth to say how she felt, but I felt hurt for her. No one would have snapped at me like that.
“I don’t like presenters who think they have a special privilege or aura or influence.”