[nwtv2003]

From memory I think part of the reason why ITV covered Pope John Paul II’s funeral was that ITV on that day itself went on strike, which had been planned in advance (or at least before the Pope’s passing). So for ITV on that day they had GMTV as normal before handing over to ITN/ITV News Channel and I believe they showed The Flintstones film after the funeral to fill part of the gap where This Morning should have gone.