ITV bosses ignored a warning from Phillip Schofield about “jumping the queue” to see the Queen’s Lying-in-State.
The former host emailed This Morning host Martin Frizell warning him of a potential viewer backlash.
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He feared images of him and Holly Willoughby being let into Westminster Hall to pay their respects would go down badly with viewers.
Schofield, 61, was told there was “nothing to worry about” and so refused to apologise when his fears materialised and 80,000 signed a petition demanding they be sacked.
He was furious when co-host Willoughby, 42, did say sorry on air while he sat next to her tight-lipped.
An insider said: “It played out exactly as Phil feared.
"He felt he and Holly had been thrown under a bus.
“This is why he didn’t want to apologise on air though and he was livid when Holly agreed to issue a statement on behalf of them both.
“In effect, this was the real beginning of the end of their friendship — and the turning point.
"It was an appalling spell for them both and, to be fair, much of the backlash was deeply unfair.”
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