TV’S Queue Two faced the nation again yesterday on This Morning – and many viewers thought Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were showing the strain of the past few days on their faces.

Fans said presenter Holly was unusually subdued — and some even claimed it appeared she had been crying.

Alongside Phil, the usually bubbly and chatty host appeared more restrained as they interviewed Strictly Come Dancing judge Anton Du Beke and the cast of new TV show Dated And Related.

But while he may have looked careworn, 60-year-old Phil, in sharp contrast, continued as normal and appeared unfazed by the furore over the claim that they jumped the queue for the Queen’s lying-in-state in Westminster Hall on Friday.

An insider said: “This whole situation has been very upsetting for Holly. She was doing her job and has now been held up as a villain.”

Viewers commented on her appearance on the show. One, Alexis, tweeted: “Holly looks like she’s been crying all night.”

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Lead balloon

Another, called Ella, added: “Holly has never been so quiet. I don’t envy anyone in the public eye.”

The pair will take their places on the programme’s sofa again today and insiders say they will keep their stiff upper lip about the backlash.

While those close to Holly and Phil — who have presented the show together since 2009 — say they have no intention of leaving their roles, they admit Holly feels let down.

A source said: “She feels like she has been left out to dry by ITV in some aspects and is understandably very angry.

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“She has been incredibly loyal and is devoted to This Morning but the handling of this situation has been very difficult for her. It has been tense between them.

“Holly is arguably facing the most troubling time in her career and she needs to be supported. She has definitely been left smarting by what has gone on.”

A petition to have Holly and Phil removed from This Morning last night topped 43,000 signatures.

They have remained insistent they never jumped a queue and following the backlash This Morning put out a statement online on Saturday.

It read: “We asked Phillip and Holly to be part of a film for 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.”

But the statement did little to stem the anger, and Tuesday’s show included a pre-recorded section in which 41-year-old Holly said: “Like hundreds of accredited broadcasters and journalists, we were given official permission to access the hall.

“It was strictly for the purpose of reporting on the event for millions of people in the UK who haven’t been able to visit Westminster in person.

“The rules were that we would be quickly escorted around the edges to a platform at the back.

“In contrast, those paying respects walked along a carpeted area beside the coffin and were given time to pause. None of the broadcasters and journalists took anyone’s places in the queue and no one filed past the Queen.

"We of course respected those rules. However, we realised that it may have looked like something else, and therefore we totally understand the reaction.

“Please know that we would never jump a queue.”

But the message went down like a lead balloon, and Holly and Phil were mocked in videos showing them bypassing the huge queue that snaked around London to Westminster Hall.

Some of the BBC top brass are hopeful that this situation could lead to them working more with Holly. They know her worth and are keen to get her on board for more shows.

The furore saw Holly call in lawyers to try to stop the spread of misinformation about her.

Friday’s show presenters Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary will take the reins as usual tomorrow, and Holly and Phil are not due back on screen until Monday. Those close to Holly said the time away would give them both room to breathe.

The source continued: “She is one of the country’s most popular television hosts. She is assured that it will be fine in the end but naturally none of this has been nice.

“She is well liked in the industry and has had people reaching out to know they are thinking of her. Some of the BBC top brass are hopeful that this situation could lead to them working more with Holly.

“They know her worth and are keen to get her on board for more shows. This situation has not dented her reputation with them.”

This Morning insiders said the atmosphere among the production staff was “tense” at times. One said: “It’s usually a big happy family but this has led to a tense atmosphere. Naturally it is business as usual behind the scenes and everyone is working like they normally would.

“But for some people it feels like a shadow is hanging over them. Outside of This Morning’s offices and studio floor it is all anyone can talk about.

Statement No1

“We asked Phillip and Holly to be part of a film for 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.”

Statement No2

"Like hundreds of accredited broadcasters and journalists we were given official permission to access the hall.

“It was strictly for the purpose of reporting on the event for millions of people in the UK who haven’t been able to visit Westminster in person.

“The rules were that we would be quickly escorted around the edges to a platform at the back. In contrast those paying respects walked along a carpeted area beside the coffin and were given time to pause.

“None of the broadcasters and journalists took anyone’s places in the queue and no one filed past the Queen.

“We of course respected those rules however we realised that it may have looked like something else and therefore we totally understand the reaction.

“Please know that we would never jump a queue.”

Poverty porn

“Most people are convinced it will have blown over by tomorrow but others aren’t so sure.”

Since the backlash began, both Holly and Phil have stopped posting on their Instagram accounts and neither has spoken publicly about it.

As the row continued, bookmakers made Vernon Kay and Rochelle Humes favourites to replace them. Dermot and Josie Gibson were next at 4/1 each, while Alison, Mollie King and Ruth Langsford — who last December was taken off the Friday slot with her husband Eamonn Holmes after 14 years — were 5/1 to take Holly’s role.

This month Holly and Phil came under fire when the show’s game Spin To Win included a prize which could have seen fans get their energy bills paid for more than three months.

Catherine McCabe tweeted: “This is called poverty porn and you are exploiting poor and working-class people who are struggling more than ever! Just for pure entertainment and ratings. You are all trash! ITV.”

And Daglas MacLeod said: “Full-on poverty porn by This Morning, well done ITV, I hope you are proud.”

The following day Phil appeared to make light of the backlash and said: “Everyone’s talking about it.”

He went on to explain they were continuing with the game and would offer the household-bills prize up to the value of £3,000.

But the following day it was axed as anger over the game reached fever pitch — and yesterday it was revealed that 379 people had made official complaints to TV watchdog Ofcom.

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Less than two weeks on, Holly and Phil are in the firing line again. But both have assured those around them they do not wish to leave the show and will continue if they can.

The source added: “Holly and Phil are staying put for now. It might not be easy, but they know they have a job to do and will carry on as best they can.”

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