Woman behind petition to axe Holly and Phil from This Morning is a ‘mental health advocate’

They labelled Holly and Phil as "narcissistic characters" and compared This Morning to the Jeremy Kyle Show

The person who set up the petition calling for Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield to be axed from This Morning has labelled themselves an "advocate for mental health." Holly and Phil have been on the receiving end of a fierce backlash after they were accused of jumping the queue to see the Queen lying in state in Westminster Hall last week. The presenters have since defended themselves, saying they were accredited media, complied by all the rules and did not take anyone's place in the queue. After they were spotted in the queue, a petition was set up calling for the pair to be removed from their presenting duties on This Morning. At the time of writing, it has amassed 59,000 signatures. Its creator, Laura Harrison, has doubled down on their desire to see the show and presenters 'axed for good." Harrison added that they are an "advocate for mental health" and do "not wish harm to anyone."

In an update on the Change.org website, they penned: "While I do not like the presenters pictured, I am an advocate of mental health and I would not wish harm to anyone. I hope ITV have taken some accountability and will make sure that all their hosts have mental health support."

Harrison also labelled Holly and Phil as "narcissistic characters" and compared This Morning to the Jeremy Kyle Show, claiming that both 'humiliated their own viewers' and that This Morning is "as damaging to mental health' as Kyle's was.

They added they no longer want to hear or read about This Morning, and accused the show of "spreading hostility and aggression in the form of snippets of toxic discussions".

"That’s why this petition will remain open for as long as people feel compelled to sign," they added, and claimed that Willoughby and Schofield have "long served their purpose".

"I felt compelled to start this is because of the danger of having hosts who believe they are more important than they actually are," they wrote.

This Morning previously addressed the visit in a statement posted on Instagram, saying: "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."

Related links:

• London Dungeon introduces brutal new Holly and Phil queue jump pass
• Piers Morgan defends Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield over 'ridiculous' queue backlash
• Fans concerned for Holly Willoughby after appearance on This Morning