Ant and Dec, the popular British entertainment duo, have made a pointed reference to the "queue-gate" scandal that embroiled former ITV presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield. The two comedians discussed the controversy on a recent episode of their podcast, "Hanging Out," while expressing a desire to see the Bayeux Tapestry.
During their discussion about visiting the tapestry, which has drawn large crowds since its display in the UK, Ant McPartlin quipped, "If anyone from the British Museum is watching this podcast in their downtime… I'd like to jump the queue." Declan Donnelly appeared to take aim at Willoughby and Schofield when he responded, "I'm not sure about TV presenters skipping queues. I don't think that's going to end well!"
Ant continued the jest, asking, "What could possibly go wrong? It's just scuttle down the side, pop in the front," to which Dec sarcastically added, "Do you think that's the end? Nobody's gonna say anything about it."
The "queue-gate" incident occurred in September 2022 when Willoughby and Schofield were accused of bypassing the extensive 13-hour queue to see Queen Elizabeth II lying in state. At the time, they stated their presence in Westminster Hall was solely for the purpose of reporting on the event for ITV.
The public reaction was swift and intense, with a petition calling for their dismissal from "This Morning" garnering over 50,000 signatures within days. The controversy continued to affect the presenters for months, only to be later overshadowed by Schofield's admission of an affair with a younger colleague and his subsequent resignation from ITV in 2023.
Willoughby, 45, has reportedly worked to distance herself from the scandal. Sources at the time indicated that both presenters felt they had been "left out to dry" and were advised against issuing a direct apology, which further fueled public anger. ITV issued a statement that was broadcast on "This Morning," but it stopped short of a full apology, a move that left many viewers dissatisfied.
One mourner, Joe Tomkins, a builder from Nottingham who had waited 14 hours, told The Sun newspaper at the time that he and others were angered to see the presenters walk past them. He reported hearing shouts of "Oi, Phil, Holly, get to the back of the queue!" and observed Schofield smiling as if he felt "we can do what we want."
An ITV spokesperson disputed Tomkins' account, stating it was "not a fair and accurate representation" and that Willoughby and Schofield "did not file past the Queen's coffin" but were present as broadcasters covering the event. A source from "This Morning" also suggested that the pair stopped for selfies with fans afterward, indicating no ill will.
Despite the explanations, the backlash was significant. TV insiders expressed concerns for the presenters' well-being, noting they appeared visibly distressed on air following the incident. The scandal ultimately contributed to a period of disarray for "This Morning," which was followed by allegations of a toxic work environment and Schofield's departure.
Willoughby eventually resigned from "This Morning" later in 2023, following reports of a kidnap and murder plot against her. She now hosts a YouTube series titled "Together."