Phillip Schofield confirms This Morning backdrop behind him and Holly Willoughby is fake after viewers SLAM Londoners for ignoring lockdown rules
- The ITV chat show has a backdrop of busy streets and boats filled with people going up and down the Thames
- Viewers thought people were ignoring Britain’s lockdown and government orders to stay indoors, not realising the backdrop is an old recorded video
- Phillip cleared up the confusion on Twitter, writing to a viewer: ‘It’s a plasma… recorded two years ago’
Phillip Schofield has confirmed This Morning’s backdrop is fake after enraged viewers slammed pedestrians ignoring social distancing guidelines.
The ITV chat show, hosted by Phillip and Holly Willoughby, has a backdrop of busy streets and boats filled with people going up and down the Thames.
Viewers thought people were ignoring Britain’s lockdown and government orders to stay indoors, not realising the backdrop is an old recorded video.
Illusion: Phillip Schofield has confirmed This Morning’s backdrop is fake after enraged viewers slammed pedestrians ignoring social distancing guidelines
Several unimpressed fans took to Twitter to express their distaste, with one writing: ‘#ThisMorning Ask Phil and Holly to look out the windows behind them. Why is it so busy?’
Another wrote: ‘Phil and Holly great show today as always. Is that a green screen behind you or is it the general public because if it is it doesn’t look like people are on lock down or social distancing out there #lockdownmeanslockdown’.
Another added: ‘If UK are in lock down, why are there loads of cars and people walking around? You can see them through the window behind Holly and Phil. Also I counted about 8 boats sail by from 10:00/10:15?’
Meanwhile, another unimpressed fan said: ‘Hi Holly and Phil, have a look behind you and see all the people milling around and all the pleasure craft and cars, I’m sure that they all do not need to be outside.’
Confusion: Viewers thought people were ignoring Britain’s lockdown and government orders to stay indoors, not realising the backdrop is an old recorded video
Clearing things up: Phillip informed a viewer that the screen behind him and Holly is actually a recording from two years ago
Phillip cleared up the confusion on Twitter, writing: ‘It’s a plasma… recorded two years ago.’
The co-hosts cleared the matter up again on Wednesday’s episode of the show, with Phil confirming the backdrop is an old recording.
The presenting duo confirmed on Monday’s show they would be sitting further apart from each other for the foreseeable future to comply with social distancing guidelines.
Unimpressed: Several viewers hit out at people not complying with stay at home orders as they were unaware the backdrop is fake
Not live: One eagle-eyed viewer also pointed out that the screen is an old recording
During Tuesday’s instalment, the hosts insisted they’re still required to come into work as the government have classed them as ‘essential workers’, after UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson plunged the nation into a lockdown.
Addressing their viewers following Boris’ speech on Monday, media personality Phil said: ‘Lets start off by explaining probably for the first time ever, why we are here today.’
Holly added: ‘The government has classed us as essential workers for the time being, as we are here to answer your questions and inform you on what is happening.’
Studio: During Tuesday’s instalment, the hosts insisted they’re still required to come into work as the government have classed them as ‘essential workers’
Phil highlighted that their studio crew has been scaled back, adding: ‘We are running with a skeleton staff and for now on, with lots of people working from home.
‘In fact, the mobile crew have brought the cameras through from GMB through a hole in the wall. There are millions of others quite rightly staying at home.’
On Monday night, the head of the government ordered the immediate closure of all non-essential shops and threatened people with fines or even arrest if they do not ‘stay at home’.
Holly said: ‘The government has classed us as essential workers for the time being, as we are here to answer your questions and inform you on what is happening.’