Phillip Schofield ‘warned ITV bosses’ about skipping the queue for the Queen’s lying-in-state 

Phillip Schofield feared queue backlash: Former This Morning star ‘warned ITV bosses’ about skipping the queue for the Queen’s in-state

  • Phillip Schofield reportedly opposed “jumping in line” at Queen’s in-state
  • He was reportedly furious with ITV bosses after ‘queue gate’ backlash

Phillip Schofield reportedly warned ITV officials not to line up for the Queen’s lie and was angry at the consequences.

The former This Morning host reportedly sent show boss Martin Frizell an email to warn him of a possible backlash.

He was concerned that the sight of him and Holly Willoughby being given fast-track entry into Westminster Hall would arouse resentment in viewers, The Sun reports.

Schofield, 61, was reportedly assured that “there was nothing wrong” and so refused to say sorry when his predictions turned out to be correct.

But the move – dubbed ‘queue-gate’ – caused a furore among This Morning viewers and at one point a petition calling for the firing of Schofield and Willoughby garnered 80,000 signatures.

Schofield was reportedly concerned that the sight of him and Holly Willoughby being given easier access to Westminster Hall would spark resentment from viewers.

Phillip Schofield reportedly warned ITV officials not to line up for the Queen's lie and was angry at the consequences.

Phillip Schofield reportedly warned ITV officials not to line up for the Queen’s lie and was angry at the consequences.

Willoughy, 42, later apologized on their behalf and read out a statement as Schofield sat beside her in stony silence.

One source claims that Schofield felt he and Willoughby had been ‘thrown under the bus’.

The insider said: “This is why he wouldn’t apologize on air and was livid when Holly agreed to make a statement on behalf of both of them.

In fact, this was the real beginning of the end of their friendship – and the turning point.

“It was a horrible spell for both of them and, to be honest, a lot of the backlash was very unfair.”

ITV has been contacted for comment.

Schofield has now left the show amid uproar over his fling with a much younger runner, but commentators point to public anger over September’s “queue gate” as the start of his downfall.

Yesterday, Eamonn Holmes berated ‘lead narcissist’ Phillip Schofield in a bombshell interview making more shocking claims about the former presenter’s affair with a much younger colleague.

Holmes, a former This Morning presenteraccused ITV of a ‘total cover up’ over the affair, claiming that ‘the authorities had to know’ of the secret relationship as the man would be transported between Phil’s flat and studios in taxis ‘paid for by ITV’.

The GB News presenter said Schofield, 61, and the young man would enjoy “playtime” after work on Thursday.

He also shared how his wife Ruth Langsford is still in touch with Phil’s ex-lover, whom he described as a “lovely dude,” but “life is tough” for him.

Eamonn Holmes - who previously presented This Morning but now works for GB News - accused ITV of a complete cover-up

Eamonn Holmes – who previously presented This Morning but now works for GB News – accused ITV of a complete cover-up

Schofield sat on This Morning's couch with his former lover

Schofield sat on This Morning’s couch with his former lover

Holmes also shared how his wife Ruth Langsford (pictured) is still in touch with Phil's ex-lover, whom he described as a

Holmes also shared how his wife Ruth Langsford (pictured) is still in touch with Phil’s ex-lover, whom he described as a “sweet guy” but “life is tough” for him

Holmes also spoke of how Thursday was known as 'playtime' for the Schofield and his former younger partner, with the pair arriving at ITV studios in separate cars on Friday morning.

Holmes also spoke of how Thursday was known as ‘playtime’ for the Schofield and his former younger partner, with the pair arriving at ITV studios in separate cars on Friday morning.

Holmes comments come as The sun revealed that Schofield would move his former lover back to his £1 million flat in an exclusive studio block in White City, west London. The pair would enter through an adjoining hotel to avoid suspicions of their secret encounters, the newspaper reported.

On Friday, Schofield admitted he had lied about his relationship with the man, leaving ITV in trouble and losing millions of pounds in sponsorship deals in the aftermath.

Holmes told fellow GB News presenter Dan Wootton tonight that he had decided to stand up for ‘people who had no voice’.

Speaking of the scandal engulfing ITV, he 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.”