In a moment of controversy no one could have predicted, more than 35,000 people have signed a petition to have Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby removed from This Morning.
The two otherwise beloved daytime TV presenters were seemingly spotted jumping the queue to see Queen Elizabeth II‘s coffin during her state funeral on Monday, 19 September and people have been left outraged.
It didn’t help their case that footage circulating on social media showed the ITV duo being escorted around the gates lining the 13-hour-long queue and straight into Westminster Hall.
The Change.org petition has now surpassed 37,000 signatures, with the description stating that ‘ITV should be ashamed of exploiting the situation’ and allowing the pair to ‘push pass thousands’ that had been waiting overnight.
Phil and Holly had been airing special episodes of This Morning throughout the official period of mourning and issued a special message of clarification denying the accusations, insisting they would ‘never jump a queue’ and that they were obviously given access specifically for press coverage.
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Those online are even unhappy with their so-called ‘apology’, arguing that they could have delivered a more sincere piece to camera.
With respect, I’m not impressed with this explanation of why Phil and Holly were there. You couldn’t do a piece to camera in there so what was the point? Stating it was the most profound moment of your life made it worse. You could have queued for that, surely? #ThisMorningpic.twitter.com/EbxmRYxytL
Speaking on Tuesday morning’s episode, Phil and Holly stated: “Like hundreds of accredited broadcasters and journalists, we were given official permission to access the hall.
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“It was strictly for the purpose of reporting on the event for millions of people in the UK who have not been able to visit Westminster in person.”
They went on to explain that hey had to be quickly escorted around the edges of the platform where the Queen’s casket was displayed rather than being given time to pause and reflect like others, adding that ‘none of the broadcasters and journalists there took anyone’s place in the queue’.
That being said, the two acknowledged that the footage didn’t look great, whether they had special journalistic dispensation or not.
More specifically, around 250,000 people queued up to see the Queen lying in state, with some reports suggesting people waited as long as 17 hours to say goodbye to the late monarch.
Laura Harrison, who created the petition, concluded that people’s ‘feelings on the monarchy’ shouldn’t matter and that the anger is more about ‘the TV show being toxic’ going so far as to suggest it ‘humiliated’ others ‘in the same way Jeremy Kyle’s show did.’
Featured Image – BBC
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Victim named and murder investigation launched after young woman is killed in Newton Heath stabbing
Emily Sergeant
The victim of a street stabbing in Newton Heath this week has been named for the first time as a murder investigation continues.
It comes after officers from Greater Manchester Police (GMP) responded to reports of a disturbance at around 2am yesterday (Thursday 15 October) on Dorking Avenue, in the Newton Heath area of Manchester, and when they arrived on the scene, they found a woman in her 20s with serious injuries that were ‘consistent with a stabbing’.
Despite best efforts of all emergency services involved, the young woman was sadly pronounced dead at the scene.
As the murder investigation progresses, the woman has now been publicly named and a photo of her has been released for the first time.
She has been named as 26-year-old Alisha Samuels.
At this time, one man, aged 25, has been arrested on suspicion of murder, and a man and woman, aged 61 and 38, have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, and they all remain in custody – with officers continuing their enquiries to establish the full circumstances of this incident.
Alisha’s family have asked for privacy whilst they deal with the devastating loss of their loved one, GMP has stated.
“We are continuing to urge people who may have information in relation to this incident to please come forward to support our investigation and bring justice for Alisha,” the police force said in a public appeal.
Anyone who may have witnessed the incident, or has mobile phone, CCTV, or doorbell footage, is urged to call GMP on 0161 856 5464, or contact them via the Major Incident Public Portal here.
Alternatively, you can contact Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111
Featured Image – GMP (Family Handout)
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Former supply teacher jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences across Greater Manchester
Emily Sergeant
A former supply teacher has been jailed for multiple upskirting and AI sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester.
Abusali Rahman – a British national of Bangladeshi ethnicity from Salford – appeared in Bolton Crown Court this week for his sentencing after first being charged with, and then pleading guilty to, several offences.
The offences are including, but not limited to, 12 counts of taking an indecent photograph/pseudo-photograph of a child (images obtained by upskirting), three counts of making indecent photograph / pseudo-photograph of a child (making AI-generated images), and one count of attempting to meet girl under 16 following sexual grooming.
The offences are alleged to have taken place between December 2023 and June 2025, according to Greater Manchester Police (GMP).
Twelve girls have been identified in relation to the upskirting offences – aged between 13 and 16 at the time of the alleged offending – at seven high schools in three Greater Manchester boroughs (Bury, Bolton, and Salford).
GMP says it has remained in close contact with the schools, local authorities, and other partners throughout the investigation to ensure all appropriate support is in place for those who need it.
Additionally, the court also heard how Rahman amassed a collection of images of young girls, using AI and other methods to sexualise them.
The images numbered more than 300 in total, ranging from Category A to Category C classifications, and Rahman would post these on social media, often alongside humiliating and disgusting captions.
Rahman was sentenced to six years in prison, and will also be subject to a 20-year Sexual Harm Protection Order.
A former supply teacher has been jailed for child sex offences in schools across Greater Manchester / Credit: GMP
Detective Constable Lisa McGaffin, from GMP’s Bolton Child Protection Team, described Rahman’s crimes as ‘absolutely abhorrent’.
“My thoughts throughout this process have always been with the young girls who have been subject to such indignity,” DC McGaffin said following the sentencing this week. “Their welfare and support will always be a priority for us.
“While working as a teacher – someone who young children should trust and be safe with – Rahman repeatedly took secret photos for his own sick gratification, before posting images online which showed his total disregard for the girls’ respect and dignity.
Danny Jones -
21st September 2022 
