Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield appear happier than ever on This Morning

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were all smiles as they put the ‘queue-gate’ scandal to one side while returning to This Morning on Monday. 

The TV presenters appeared to be back to their happy selves after 73,000 fans called for them to be sacked over the scandal.

Holly, 41, looked gorgeous in a £140 bright pink jumper and a £240 flowing skirt from the brand Cefinn, which she teamed with tottering nude heels.

Her long hair was out and over her shoulders in tousled curls and she beamed in the snap.

Meanwhile Phillip, 60, cut a dapper figure in a checked shirt, teamed with black skinny jeans and smart shoes. 

It comes after allegations that Holly and her This Morning co-host Phillip Schofield, 60, ‘skipped the queue’ to see the Queen lying in state earlier this month, with the pair copping backlash from fans and even facing a petition calling for them to be axed. 

On Monday, the petition for the presenters to be removed from television altogether has now reached 73,000 signatures.

Putting it behind them: The TV presenters appeared to be back to their happy selves after fans called for them to be sacked over the scandal

She’s back! It comes after Holly shared the first picture of herself on social media on Monday morning since fans called for her to be sacked over the ‘queue-gate’ scandal.

Holly shared the first picture of herself on social media on Monday morning since fans called for her to be sacked over the ‘queue-gate’ scandal. 

‘Morning Monday… see you at 10am on This Morning. Today we’re joined by everyone’s favourite love story Harry Redknapp and his beautiful Sandra… Skirt and knitwear by Cefinn Studio,’ Holly captioned her post. 

Underneath her post, WAG and model Abbey Clancy, 36, publicly voiced her support for Holly, writing: ‘There she is!!!! Beautiful girl.’

Journalist and TV star Kate Thornton added love heart eye emojis.

Another follower remarked: ‘You look beautiful. Keep your chin up, the world’s gone mad.’ 

On Thursday evening, Holly congratulate her friend and This Morning fashion presenter Lisa Snowdon for winning Celebrity MasterChef in an Instagram story. 

‘Morning Monday… see you at 10am on This Morning. Today we’re joined by everyone’s favourite love story Harry Redknapp and his beautiful Sandra…’ her post read

Underneath her post, WAG and model Abbey Clancy, 36, publicly voiced her support for Holly, writing: ‘There she is!!!! Beautiful girl.’ Kate Thornton and fans also chimed in

‘Well done’: On Thursday, Holly did, however, return to social media for the first time since the scandal, but only to congratulate her friend and This Morning fashion presenter Lisa Snowdon

It comes following the uproar surrounding allegations she and Phil ‘skipped the queue’ to see the Queen lying in state earlier this month – claims they both strongly denied. 

The pair have been the subject of online abuse in the wake of the claims and a petition to have the duo fired from their lucrative presenting roles hit more than 71,000 signatures in seven days. 

The furore began on Friday September 16 when the presenters’ approach was contrasted with that of football legend David Beckham the same day. 

The former England captain waited in line for almost 14 hours to pay his respects to the Queen – despite being offered a pass by an MP to jump the queue. 

Good Morning presenter Susanna Reid also won plaudits for waiting for seven hours with her mother to file past the coffin.

Uproar: It comes following the uproar surrounding allegations she and Phil ‘skipped the queue’ to see the Queen lying in state earlier this month – claims they both strongly denied

The week-long fallout over the incident – which has spawned hundreds of jokes online at their expense – has sparked rival briefing wars, with the presenters’ relationship now said to be under strain.

Holly is also believed to be unhappy that ITV did not step in sooner to back her, and there has been speculation – since denied – that she may leave the show.

After being seen on the official camera feed inside the venue, the pair said they were there to make a segment for This Morning’s show which would air four days later.

No TV crews other than the official feed were allowed inside.

Controversy: The furore began on Friday September 16 when the presenters’ approach was contrasted with that of David Beckham, who waited 14 hours in line that same day

Holly and Phil have not commented on the matter since issuing a statement on Tuesday’s show in which they insisted they ‘did not skip the queue’. 

ITV bosses are reportedly concerned Holly and Phil could be booed when they attend the National Television Awards next month following the backlash. 

A source told The Sun: ‘They could be booed walking down the red carpet or even on stage. It’s a major concern.’ 

It comes as The Mail on Sunday revealed the star’s names were not even on the accreditation list when they made their controversial visit to see the Queen lying in state.

Concerns: ITV bosses are reportedly concerned Holly and Phil could be booed when they attend the National Television Awards next month following the backlash

The TV presenters created a ‘hoo-ha’ when they turned up ten days ago with two colleagues at Westminster Hall for what they say was to report for This Morning, said a source involved in processing the media list.

In what is the latest twist in an astonishing queue-jumping row, the names of their production team were instead used to help them gain access.

ITV insisted it would not give out the personal contact details of on-screen talent to the Palace of Westminster authorities – and so the email addresses of programme editor Martin Frizell and another member of the production staff, who accompanied them, had been used instead.

The source involved in the media list told The Mail on Sunday: ‘When they got there, their names weren’t on the list so there were some discussions and – after some back and forth – Phil and Holly were given access and they were ushered through. The whole thing caused a bit of a hoo-ha.’

Neither Frizell nor the other man accompanied the pair into Westminster Hall, where they stood in the press pen for 25 minutes.

Claims: It comes as The Mail on Sunday revealed the star’s names were not even on the accreditation list when they made their controversial visit to see the Queen lying in state

Holly has been relying on support from her friends to get her through the past few days. And despite the fact that calls for Holly and Phil to be sacked could land Alison and Dermot the role as full-time hosts, sources say they have remained loyal.

Phil and Holly are reportedly paid as much as £600,000 for presenting the daytime show from Mondays to Thursdays, with Alison and Dermot filling in for Friday’s show.

Although neither ITV, Holly or Phil have said they will be changing the presenter line-up, that hasn’t stopped speculation brewing on who would take on the top spot if the duo were to leave This Morning.

According to William Hill, Vernon Kay and Rochelle Humes are the 2/1 favourites to replace the pair as lead presenter. Dermot is 4/1, the same price as Josie Gibson, with Alison, Craig Doyle, Ruth Langsford and Mollie King available at 5/1.

TV stars: Phil and Holly are reportedly paid as much as £600,000 for presenting the daytime show from Mondays to Thursdays

‘She’s been a rock’: Holly has ben leaning on Alison Hammond for support over Queuegate while she rides out a wave of public anger over allegations she ‘skipped the queue’ to see the Queen lying in state

However, the speculation hasn’t caused any tension between the stars, with a source telling MailOnline: ‘Alison, Dermot, Phil and Holly are incredibly close and tight-knit.

‘When things started to blow up over the weekend they were in touch straight away to offer their support. Alison, in particular, has spoken many times with Holly over the phone and been a real rock.

‘Dermot and Alison, along with the rest of the senior members of the ITV team, all knew they were going to be visiting Westminster and there is a sense of shock and bewilderment at how things have blown up.’

This Morning insiders believe they are now ‘through the worst of the crisis’ but ITV bosses are still taking steps to make sure Phil and Holly get any support they need.

‘ITV has a duty of care to look after all of its presenters and some of the abuse that Phil and Holly have received on social media is absolutely horrendous,’ the source added.

‘People have gone way too far in some of the things they are saying and senior management have kept in regular touch with Phil and Holly to check they are OK. That will carry on until next week when they return to the programme.

‘Those working on the show hope, by then, things will have blown over and that they will be able to start to put this nightmare to bed. But only time will tell.’  

Getting through it: This Morning insiders believe they are now ‘through the worst of the crisis’ but ITV bosses are still taking steps to make sure Phil and Holly get any support they need

Meanwhile, it recently emerged that Holly and Phillip were keen to issue a public apology over ‘queue-gate’, but were talked out of it after taking legal advice.

A statement was issued by ITV on Saturday and later broadcast on Tuesday’s This Morning, which was voiced over by Holly but both stopped short of using the word ‘sorry’ – a move which has left many viewers furious.

A source told MailOnline: ‘Every word of the statement was poured over. In the end, it’s spectacularly backfired.

‘Initially Holly and Phillip were prepared to say sorry if they’d upset anyone as they both just desperately want to draw a line under the affair. But they were advised strongly not to go down that road of saying sorry.’

Holly recently sparked worry amongst fans on Tuesday after they noticed she looked like she was ‘on the verge of tears’ and had ‘never been so quiet’.

A TV source said on Wednesday night: ‘The abuse has been nothing short of disgusting, not least as they have done nothing wrong and were fully entitled to media accreditation so they could inform their viewers.

Statement: On Saturday, This Morning bosses denied show hosts Holly and Phillip had ‘VIP access’ and filed ‘past the Queen lying in state’

‘There is huge, real and serious concerns over their wellbeing and ITV are fully supporting them behind the scenes in the face of such relentless trolling. The channel backs them 110 per cent.’

On Tuesday’s episode of This Morning – the first since ‘queue-gate’ began, Holly and Phil issued a lengthy denial that they had jumped the queue.

In a voiceover over a package of the pair at Westminster Hall, Holly explained: ‘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 have not 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.

A clearer view: A photo of Westminster Abbey – highlighting where the media box is, where the public queue is and where Holly and Phil appeared to be walking

‘In contrast, those paying respect walked along a carpeted area beside the coffin and were given time to pause.

‘None of the broadcasters and journalists there took anyone’s place in the queue and no one filed past the Queen. We of course respected those rules.

‘However, we realise that it may have looked like something else, and therefore totally understand the reaction. Please know that we would never jump a queue.’

MailOnline understands that the pair personally insisted that the fiasco be addressed at the start of the show and believe ITV should not have waited so long to speak out on the matter – spending the weekend ‘locked in talks’ with TV producers.

A source revealed: ‘Philip and Holly are dumbstruck at the level of anger they’ve received in the past few days. They felt ITV should have made it clearer, right away, that it was part of a broadcast.’

Birdseye view: This graphic of Westminster Abbey shows the areas permitted for the public and media, and the spot where the presenters were seen

An ITV source said: ‘We absolutely made it clear at the time that it was part of a broadcast due to air on Tuesday. This was communicated from the outset, and we gave this information immediately. There have been no crisis discussions or talks about Holly not being part of This Morning moving forward.’

Yet following Holly and Phil’s on-air explanation, some social media users were not convinced, with one saying: ‘I’m afraid that so-called explanation was way off the mark. At the end of the day, Holly and Phil got to see, experience and feel that atmosphere and moment, all with the privilege of no queue. Us Brit’s are all about fairness. This wasn’t.’

Another said: ‘Too posh to queue are we?? Who do you think you are?’

However fans of the pair also raised concerns about Holly’s mental health, with one saying: ‘Is Holly ok? She’s not looking herself? #ThisMorning.’

A second said: ‘Holly has never been so quiet. I don’t envy anyone in the public eye #ThisMorning.’

Reactions: Some viewers weren’t convinced after their explanation. Others had noticed that Holly looked emotional while on the show