Good Morning Britain’s resident firebrand Piers Morgan has slammed the government’s boycott of the breakfast show – and said it constitutes a “shameful snub” of co-star Kate Garraway.
Kate’s husband Derek Draper was first admitted to hospital in late March after a coronavirus diagnosis, and was rushed into intensive care at the start of April.
He’s now emerged from the medically induced coma into a “state of minimum consciousness” and has even managed to get a word out, but Kate has warned that the road to recovery is still a long one.
Meanwhile, Saturday will mark a staggering 200 days since a government minister has appeared for interview on the show.
Piers’ co-host Susanna Reid told the Mirror : “If there is one member of the team to whom they owe a particular duty to explain policy and answer questions, it would be Kate.
“It’s shocking that they haven’t done that.”
Piers added: “OK, don’t come on when I am on.
“But to not come on when Kate is presenting. Really? You are going to snub someone whose husband is in a coma from Covid. It’s shameful.”
Piers hasn’t hidden his disdain for the government’s crisis management, especially during his fiery mid-April interview with Health Secretary Matt Hancock.
Mr Hancock has vowed to “come on as soon as I possibly can”, but turned down a slot on today’s show, claiming: “Unfortunately, I have got something in the diary and I have a lot of work to do to get this vaccine rolled out.”
The April interview saw broadcast regulator Ofcom hit with complaints over Piers’ conduct.
He also sparked complaints during a brutal questioning of Care Minister Helen Whately.
Ofcom cleared Piers on both counts, ruling that his interview technique fell within the remit of his journalistic duty.
“What Ofcom did about our awful haranguing of these poor little ministers… it was a very important moment for the TV regulator,” Piers reckoned.
“They could easily have rolled over in the face of public opinion. I am sorry about those interviews – I am sorry I didn’t go harder.”
Care Minister Victoria Atkins was the last government official to have made an appearance on the show.
Piers now insists she “had no idea what I was talking about” when he grilled her over PPE.