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Simon Duke

Eamonn Holmes makes Phillip and Holly dig on GB News after 'queue jump' accusations

Eamonn Holmes couldn't resist having a dig at Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby after the 'queue jumping' accusations against his former This Morning colleagues in the days leading up to the Queen's funeral.

Like many broadcasters across the country and indeed, right across the world, Eamonn was on duty for GB News as eyes fell on London for the massive state event on Monday. And as he and co-host Isabel Webster were joined by commentators including Christopher Biggins and Dawn Neesom, talk turned to the massive queues to see Her Majesty lying in state at Westminster Hall.

Dawn remarked how people had been 'running' to make the end of the queue in time to file past the coffin, before the doors of the Hall closed to the public at 6.30am on Monday. Droves of people have flooded into the historic building since teatime on Wednesday, after the Queen's body made the short trip from Buckingham Palace to Westminster.

READ MORE: BBC's Huw Edwards takes swipe at Westminster Hall 'queue jumpers' after Phillip and Holly denial

Isabel then said they had a guest coming up who had "suffered" the mammoth queue to see the Queen, adding that they were "not of any insignificant age," to which Eamonn quipped: "What? Holly and Phillip? Are we speaking to them?"

After Dawn gasped and put her hands over her mouth, Isabel put the boot into the two This Morning hosts, replying: "This isn't a queue jumper, this is someone who paid their dues."

Eammon's former co-stars Phillip and Holly sparked controversy online after they were spotted on Friday afternoon, by viewers of the BBC's lying in state live stream, in a separate queue at Westminster Hall, prompting allegations they'd 'pushed IN.'

This was an accusation swiftly denied by a spokesperson for the pair and then by This Morning bosses, who put out a statement at the weekend, which read: "Hello everyone, we'd like to clarify something. 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 or 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."

Eamonn's comment came after BBC's Huw Edwards took aim at queue jumpers during a live broadcast on Sunday evening. As millions tuned in at home, Huw remarked: “There have been quite a few familiar faces in the queue for that lying in state. We did of course see a certain David Beckham there on Friday. He was widely praised for queuing for hours and hours, not jumping the queue because he’s a superstar VIP; no he was in the queue for many hours. Good for him.”

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