Mel B makes pointed GMB dig at Queen queue jumpers amid Holly and Phil backlash

2022-09-20

Spice Girls star Mel B made a pointed dig about "Queen queue jumpers" during an appearance on Tuesday's Good Morning Britain.

During the latest episode, the singer, 47, appeared on the ITV chatshow to talk about the Queen following her funeral on 19 September, as well as her MBE that she was awarded by Prince William earlier this year.

Chat soon turned to Royal fans and celebrities queuing for the Queen lying-in-state, where Mel B said she has "so much respect" for GMB host Susanna Reid, who queued for seven hours.

It comes as This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were slammed on social media after they were thought to have skipped ahead to see the Queen Lying-in-State on Friday, 16 September.

Mel said: "Before I forget, Susanna, you queued for seven hours? My gosh, I have so much respect for you. I mean, I did anyway but even more so now. What was that like?"

To which Susanna replied: "So kind of you to ask, thank you, we've been talking about it. It felt like a pilgrimage, actually, not religious but it did feel like a pilgrimage. Honour to be with all the other people in the queue as well."

With Mel B then making a pointed dig as she jumped in with: "No queue jumping for you!"

Susanna then quickly replied: "Well, you know, some people had to work of course. I was there with my mum, who wanted to be there, and her friend. It was lovely."

It comes after Susanna appeared to take a thinly-veiled swipe at Holly and Phil herself on Monday's GMB by describing what a privilege it was to queue up with everyone else.

The TV host, 51, and her 81 year old mother queued for more than seven hours to file past the coffin of Her Majesty who had been Lying-in-State ahead of her funeral on September 19.

However, ITV colleagues, This Morning presenters Phil, 60, and Holly, 41, have faced backlash after they were spotted walking past queuing mourners inside Westminster Hall and paying their respects in a different line to the public.

The This Morning duo had been criticised for using their "celebrity status" to jump the queue when others including Susanna and also David Beckham queued with the rest of the public.

Phil and Holly had been spotted walking past the queue and wearing lanyards leading many to assume they'd skipped the wait due to their celebrity status.

Following the backlash, ITV released a statement at the weekend saying: "This Morning had press accreditation and like other media, Phillip and Holly were escorted to work from the press gallery by government staff.

"They did not file past The Queen's coffin. They were there alongside a host of other broadcasters and national press outlets for an item that will be broadcast on Tuesday's show.

"Any allegations of improper behaviour are categorically untrue."

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