Tag Archives: piers morgan

These Are The 10 Most Complained-About TV Moments In Ofcom’s History

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1. Good Morning Britain, 2021 – 54,495 complaints

Piers Morgan casts doubt on Meghan Markle’s claims she experienced suicidal thoughts while still a senior royal

2. Celebrity Big Brother, 2007 – 45,159 complaints

Jade Goody and fellow housemates’ treatment of Shilpa Shetty sparks racism accusations

3. Celebrity Big Brother, 2018 – 25,327 complaints

Roxanne Pallett wrongly accuses Ryan Thomas of deliberately punching her in the ribs

4. Britain’s Got Talent , 2020– 25,017 complaints

Diversity’s guest performance reflecting on the events of 2020 includes references to Black Lives Matter protests

5. Love Island, 2021 – 24,921 complaints

Former Islander Faye Winter shouts at boyfriend Teddy Soares in the villa.

6. Julia Hartley-Brewer (TalkTV), 2024 – 17,351

Julia Hartley-Brewer suggests Mustafa Barghouti, a member of the Palestinian Legislative Council, is perhaps “not used to women talking”.

7. I’m A Celebrity, Get Me Out Of Here!, 2020 – 11,516

I’m A Celebrity continues to use live animals in its Bushtucker Trials.

8. Dan Wootton Tonight (GB News), 2023 – 8,867

Guest Laurence Fox launches into a misogynistic tirade about a female journalist live on air.

9. Jerry Springer The Opera, 2005 – 8,860

Viewers take issue with the musical’s use of language and depiction of Christian imagery.

10. King Charles III: The Coronation (ITV), 2023 – 8,421

Bridgerton star Adjoa Andoh remarks on the disparity between what she described as the “rich diversity of the Abbey” the “terribly white” scene after the Royal Family waved to the public from the balcony of Buckingham Palace.

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Piers Morgan Pinpoints Exactly How Brexit Is The ‘Great Unmentionable’ In This Election

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Commentator Piers Morgan called out politicians for omitting Brexit from their election campaigns last night.

While critiquing the first leadership debate of the election so far, Morgan told BBC Newsnight: “The great unmentionable in all this is Brexit. Nobody is talking about Brexit.

“Eight years after that referendum, I was someone who voted Remain but was adamant that you can’t just have another referendum immediately.”

The former TalkTV host said while he thought the initial “re-moaning was ridiculous”, he thinks it is now time to consider voting on the topic again.

Morgan said: “After eight years, given the state of the supposed ‘control’ of our borders, which is terrible, and given the self-harming effect on our economy, surely it’s time that Labour had an honest conversation about where the polling is on Brexit, which is where most people in this country would like another referendum, to see if they would like what they’ve been given.”

Although the UK voted to leave the EU in 2016, the full effects of our departure are just being felt.

The Office for Budget Responsibility has said Brexit has caused a 4% hit to the economy – and the full impact is expected be felt for years to come.

Migration numbers also remain exceptionally high.

Labour called for another referendum on the UK’s EU membership back in 2019, before the country had officially left the trading bloc.

At the time, Jeremy Corbyn was the leader of the opposition and parliament was deadlocked over the terms of the withdrawal agreement.

Corbyn said he wanted to stop “no deal” or a “damaging Tory Brexit”.

Since then, Corbyn has lost the Labour whip and the party’s leader Keir Starmer – who is widely expected to win the next election, according to the polls – said last September there is no case for returning to the EU.

He has stayed quiet on the topic ever since.

The Conservatives have not mentioned Brexit at all, despite spending the whole of the 2019 general election arguing that they were the ones who “got Brexit done”.

However, the topic is only more likely to rear its head now Chief Brexiter Nigel Farage has just returned to frontline politics.

To great fanfare, he announced this week that his eighth attempt to run for parliament in Clacton as the new Reform UK leader.

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Graham Norton Had The Best Reaction To Beating Piers Morgan At This Year’s NTAs

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Earlier this month, both presenters were nominated for Best TV Interview at the National Television Awards, but it was The Graham Norton Show that ended up triumphing over Piers Morgan Uncensored.

During a recent appearance on Watch What Happens Live, the Irish host was asked during a Q&A about beating Piers “especially after he said on the red carpet that there was ‘no competition’” between them.

“I didn’t know that!” Graham said of his fellow nominee’s comment. “I just Zoomed in to accept the award, but it was worth Zooming in to see the expression on Piers Morgan’s face.”

Later in the interview, Graham was asked if he’d ever had Piers on his show, to which he sarcastically responded: “No, funnily enough! And I’ve never been on his! And we’re good.”

However, the five-time Bafta winner was more complimentary about one of his former guests, chart-topping singer Taylor Swift, who he said he “loves”.

“I don’t know how she can be as normal as she is, she seems so regular,” Graham claimed.

After being asked for his take on the British public’s views on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Graham went on to share an anecdote about meeting the Duke of Sussex while on a night out with the late Carrie Fisher.

Watch that for yourself in the video below:

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Alan Cumming Hits Back At ‘Lump Of Ignorance’ Piers Morgan In OBE Row

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Alan Cumming has fired back at Piers Morgan after the former Good Morning Britain presenter called him “pathetic” and “disingenuous” for returning his OBE.

Last week, the Traitors US host revealed that he had recently handed back the honour, which he had been given to him in 2009 for his services to drama and LGBTQ+ activism.

In a post to commemorate his 58th birthday, Alan explained he had “misgivings” at “being associated with the toxicity of empire”.

After the story was picked up by multiple news outlets on both sides of the Atlantic, Piers tweeted of Alan: “What a pathetic, disingenuous, disloyal, attention-seeking little twerp.”

However, Alan brushed off the criticism during an appearance on SiriusXM Progress radio this week, saying that “if you’re pissing off Piers Morgan, you’re on the right track”.

He added: “I think that lump of ignorance, if I’m pissing him off, I’m doing the right thing.”

Naturally, after hearing what Alan had to say about him, Piers had a response.

Tweeting a clip of the radio interview, Piers said: “Ditto, Mr Cumming. Your explanation of your OBE return is so comically disingenuous.

“You did it for a bit of wokie social media love and (much-needed!) press attention – just admit it.”

In an interview with People magazine earlier this week, Alan said he “didn’t ever expect so much attention about it”.

“It’s been really positive,” he continued. “People really understood why it’s complicated, it’s complex, it’s not a black or white thing.

“I tried to say that in my statement, and people have really responded to that. I think times are changing and things change, and you change how you feel about something.”

In his original post, Alan said he had “reiterated my great gratitude for being given it in the first place” upon returning the honour.

He added: “The Queen’s death and the ensuing conversations about the role of monarchy and especially the way the British Empire profited at the expense (and death) of indigenous peoples across the world really opened my eyes.

“Also, thankfully, times and laws in the US have changed, and the great good the award brought to the LGBTQ+ cause back in 2009 is now less potent than the misgivings I have being associated with the toxicity of empire (OBE stands for Officer of the British Empire).”

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Cristiano Ronaldo: Twitter Reacts To ‘Sad, Avoidable’ Departure From Manchester United

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Cristiano Ronaldo’s departure from Manchester United – with immediate effect – sent social media into overdrive as the football superstar threatened to overshadow even the World Cup.

United issued a statement on Tuesday evening announcing they had reached a mutual agreement with the player to terminate his contract.

The development comes a week after Ronaldo unsettled the club in an outspoken TV interview with Piers Morgan, which exacerbated a relationship that was already strained during the early part of the season.

Among his comments in the programme were claims that he felt “betrayed” by United and that he had no respect for new manager Erik Ten Hag.

He also said that he felt people at the club were trying to force him out and that United showed a lack of empathy when his daughter was in hospital ill.

There were also wider complaints about the standard of facilities at the club as well as criticism of the owners.

When United responded by appointing lawyers to consider potential action for alleged breach of contract, it became clear a parting of the ways was likely.

Ronaldo, 37, issued his own statement which read: “Following conversations with Manchester United we have mutually agreed to end our contract early.

“I love Manchester United and I love the fans, that will never ever change. However, it feels like the right time for me to seek a new challenge.

“I wish the team every success for the remainder of the season and for the future.”

The development means Ronaldo is now free to negotiate with other clubs.

Morgan was inevitably one of the first to react …

… cheekily suggesting a move to his beloved Arsenal was now on the cards.

Football journalists offered brief post-mortems

A Manchester United legend and former teammate was philosophical

Was there something of a parting shot?

Some came to praise …

… while others imagined an awkward exit.

And it wasn’t supposed to be the biggest football story of the day.

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Piers Morgan Blasts Steph McGovern For ‘Gobbing Off’ About His TalkTV Ratings On Have I Got News For You

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On Friday’s episode of the BBC’s news and politics comedy panel show, guest presenter Steph referred to his TalkTV show Piers Morgan Uncensored as “Piers Morgan Unwatched”.

“What’s she been up to this week?,” Steph asked panellists Ian Hislop and Paul Merton.

Paul replied: “She took over Piers Morgan’s TV show. He’s been on holiday, and it didn’t go well.”

Steph then sarcastically told the audience: “Nadine Dorries has been sitting in on Piers Morgan’s ‘smash-hit’ TalkTV show, Piers Morgan: Unwatched!”

On Saturday, Piers fired back at Steph on Twitter, sharing a screenshot of a two-year-old story in the Sun that claimed Steph’s own Channel 4 show registered zero viewers when it first launched.

“Hear you were gobbing off about my ⁦@PiersUncensored⁩ ratings on #HIGFY last night ⁦@StephLunch⁩ – you sure you’re the best person to do that?” he tweeted.

Steph has yet to respond.

Despite it taking Dorries just 12 seconds to mess up during her presenting of Piers’ TalkTV show, she was a ratings hit.

The MP reportedly pulled in 26,000 viewers, while Piers averages 14,000-19,000 viewers.

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Piers Morgan Banned From Russia In Latest Round Of Sanctions

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TalkTV’s Piers Morgan and BBC presenter Huw Edwards are among the latest UK politicians and journalists to be banned from Russia.

The Russian foreign ministry issued a list of 39 newly sanctioned individuals it said are no longer allowed to enter the Russian Federation.

It said the action was in response to UK sanctions issued against Russian ministers, officials and members of influential families linked to the Kremlin following Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

The Russian foreign ministry claimed those individuals sanctioned have contributed to “London’s hostile course aimed at the demonisation of our country and its international isolation”.

Other than Morgan and Edwards, journalists including ITV’s Robert Peston and head of Sky News, John Ryley, are also listed alongside reporters at various outlets.

Morgan, writing on Twitter, said: “It wasn’t on my immediate vacation to-do list.”

The broadcaster last week interviewed Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and first lady Olena Zelenska.

Edwards tweeted: “Huw’ve been banned! I made the Kremlin cut (39/39).”

Former prime minister David Cameron is the first name on the list, followed by Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, a former Nato secretary-general, while Labour leader Keir Starmer and shadow cabinet ministers Lisa Nandy, David Lammy and Nick Thomas-Symonds also feature.

SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford, Scottish government economy secretary Kate Forbes and transport minister Wendy Morton, previously in the foreign office, are also among those included.

The Russian foreign ministry said in a statement: “As has been noted more than once, the pernicious actions of the UK in planting Russophobia, spreading false information about our country and supporting the Kyiv neo-Nazi regime will receive an adequate and decisive response from the Russian side.

“The choice in favour of confrontation is a conscious decision of the British political establishment, which bears all responsibility for the consequences.”

The statement also said it will continue work to expand the list.

Earlier this year, Russia said it was taking action against 287 MPs in retaliation for sanctions against Russian politicians.

But the list included several former MPs.

Prime minister Boris Johnson said in April that MPs should regard their inclusion on the list as a “badge of honour”.

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Piers Morgan Addresses Claims Guest Was Briefed On What Not To Say On His ‘Uncensored’ Show

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Piers Morgan has dismissed claims that a guest on his supposedly “Uncensored” show was briefed by producers on what not to say on air.

Earlier this week, the divisive host was joined by comedian and political activist Kate Smurthwaite for a discussion about one of Piers’ favourite topics (yes, that would be the Duchess of Sussex).

However, after her segment on Piers Morgan Uncensored aired, Kate said that her appearance on the show wasn’t quite as uncensored as its name suggested.

She tweeted on Thursday night: “Today in #MyLifeIsWeird I’m sat in the green room for Piers Morgan UNCENSORED (the producer has just told me at least three things NOT to say on air LOL #ActuallyCensored) when the other guest arrives who will be on for the second half of the show. It’s JOAN COLLINS…”

Piers soon contested this version of events, tweeting back 45 minutes later: “I just checked and nobody tried to censor you – we don’t censor guests, that’s the point of the show.”

“Yes I was,” Kate then responded. “Great, have me on again and I’ll say all the things I was told not to say.”

In a follow-up column in The Mirror, Kate claimed: “The producer pencilled the slot into my diary last week and rang in the morning to let me know what topics would be discussed and ask what my views were. Standard procedure.

“After their morning meeting, I had a confirmation call too. They were looking forward to having me on. The only thing was… they’d like me not to mention a couple of the things I had said in our earlier conversation. A remarkable request for a show that is literally called ‘uncensored’.”

She continued: “They didn’t want me to get ‘too personal’ with Morgan. They didn’t want me criticising or seeking to explain his ‘vindictive obsession’ with [Meghan Markle].

“The main thing they didn’t want me to say was: ‘You know that no matter how many hours you spend slagging her off, she’s still not going to shag you?’. True. Funny. Insightful. What’s not to love?”

Kate Smurthwaite on stage
Kate Smurthwaite on stage

Andrew Aitchison via Getty Images

Referring to Piers’ tweet, Kate added: “If, as he has subsequently claimed on Twitter, there was no effort to censor me, his producers would not have warned me beforehand to not get ‘too personal’ with Piers when discussing the topic of Meghan.

“I’d like to discuss his childish obsession with Markle. And then whilst I’m about it his nasty attitude towards some other celebrities and the way that the right wing media will cry censorship when it suits them and participate in the exact same thing when it doesn’t. I’ve got plenty to say.”

HuffPost UK has contacted Talk TV for comment.

Piers at the TRIC Awards last year
Piers at the TRIC Awards last year

Mike Marsland via Getty Images

Piers Morgan Uncensored debuted last month with a much-publicised interview with former US president Donald Trump.

In the weeks since its launch, reports have claimed that viewing figures for Piers’ show have taken a nosedive, with other programmes on Talk TV reportedly recording no audience at all at some points.

Amid reports of struggling ratings at Talk TV, Piers previously tweeted: “Linear TV [is] increasingly irrelevant [compared] to total eyeball potential for a global show like this, especially with younger viewers who don’t really watch TV any more.”

However, this somewhat contradicts what he repeatedly used to say during his tenure on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, when he would often goad BBC rival Dan Walker over their respective viewing figures.

Piers Morgan Uncensored certainly lived up to its name last month, when one interviewee dropped the C-bomb live on air while referring to the divisive host.

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Piers Morgan Tries To Reignite Feud With ‘Sycophantic’ David Walliams: ‘He’s Sooo Creepy’

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Piers Morgan has attempted to reignite his feud with David Walliams, labelling the Britain’s Got Talent judge “sycophantic” and “creepy”.

Piers, who used to sit on the judging panel of the ITV talent show from 2007 until 2010, didn’t hold back following the latest episode.

The TalkTV presenter has previously described David as a “treacherous piece of work” and “a snivelling today”, and he couldn’t resist having yet another dig at the former Little Britain star on Saturday night.

“Love the judging panel on @BGT – apart from David Walliams,” he wrote.

“All he does is drip & drool unctuously sycophantic drivel, and he’s soooooo creepy.”

It’s Piers’ latest attempt to try and get a rise out of David, who has kept his opinion about Piers (mostly) to himself.

Back in 2019, Piers called out the comedian and author after he liked a tweet that referenced the fake war torture pictures published in the Mirror that led to Piers losing his job as the editor of the newspaper in 2004.

Sharing a screen grab of the tweet liked by David and actress Amanda Abbington, Piers wrote: “Amusing that ⁦@davidwalliams⁩ regularly ‘likes’ the nastiest tweets about me, yet is such a snivelling toady to my face. It’s not my fault ⁦@BGT⁩ ratings were so much higher when I was in your chair Dave!”

Although David never responded, his former Little Britain co-star Matt Lucas jumped to his defence.

Matt tweeted at the time: “Purely objectively – 1) He was probably being polite. Some people are. 2) Boasting about the BGT ratings and popularity when you were briefly on it to someone who has not only transformed the show but is consistently the biggest-selling author in the country didn’t work.”

Meanwhile, BGT bosses have defended the acts on this year’s series, after it was revealed that around a quarter of them are professional performers or already have links to the show.

The show has faced criticism from viewers after it was discovered that many of the 60 competitors who have taken to the stage have a professional profile or have already appeared on other talent shows, including international versions of BGT.

Responding to the latest criticism, an ITV spokesperson told The Sun: “All acts enter the competition with the hope of elevating their career to the highest level and help to reach massive new audiences which Britain’s Got Talent brings in.

“As we’re all aware, the pandemic affected so many lives, particularly those that work in the entertainment industry, and it is wrong to deny these people the opportunity to showcase their talents and entertain the nation, and ultimately perform in front of royalty at the Royal Variety Performance.

“As has always been the case, Britain’s Got Talent is open to everyone.”

Britain’s Got Talent continues this Saturday at 8pm on ITV and the ITV Hub.

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Piers Morgan Uncensored Guest Brands Host A ‘C***’ Live On Air

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Piers Morgan Uncensored more than lived up to its name during Monday night’s episode, when a guest dropped a C-bomb live on air.

During the latest instalment of Piers’ topical Talk TV show, he spoke with “Jame” a protester at a trans rights demonstration organised by the activist group Trans Rise Up.

Jame wore a wig, sunglasses and face mask to obscure their true identity, with the former daytime star beginning the conversation by insisting he had “always supported trans rights to fairness and equality and I mean that sincerely”.

“That’s bullshit, bro,” his guest then suggested, with Piers responding: “You can say ‘bullshit, bro’ and you’re entitled to. It’s an uncensored show and you’ve just proven it.”

Jame then reminded the host that after a previous discussion about gender identity, the host had mockingly changed his Twitter profile picture to what Piers described at the time as a “two-spirit penguin”.

As the conversation continued, Piers apologised to viewers for Jame’s language, before stating his “issue” with trans women being allowed to compete alongside cisgender athletes in women’s sport.

“I think it’s very unfair that trans women should be competing against women born to female biological bodies,” he said, before Jame urged him to “shut up, bro”.

“Do you understand that a majority of women athletes do not give a shit about trans women in sports?” Jame asked.

Piers then said: “You can’t just call everyone who disagrees with you transphobic. If you keep swearing I’ll have to cut you off.”

The interview then culminated in Piers asking Jame what their issue was with his position, with the guest beginning to take off their mic, saying: “I don’t really know. I’m going to leave the interview, now. I kind of only came on here because I thought it would be kind of funny. But I wanted to say, ‘you’re a c***’.”

Jame ended the exchange by telling Piers they thought he was a "c***"
Jame ended the exchange by telling Piers they thought he was a “c***”

Responding to the jibe, Piers branded Jame a “complete idiot” and “very unpleasant piece of work”.

After apologising to viewers again later in the show, Piers added: “It’s a shame. I wanted to have a rational, sensible debate. They didn’t, so that’s it. They won’t be back on and we move on.”

Piers Morgan Uncensored launched last month with a much-publicised interview with former US president Donald Trump.

However, since then, reports have claimed that viewing figures for Piers’ show have taken a nosedive since its debut, with other programmes on Talk TV reportedly recording no audience at all at some points.

Piers previously tweeted: “Linear TV [is] increasingly irrelevant [compared] to total eyeball potential for a global show like this, especially with younger viewers who don’t really watch TV any more.”

This somewhat contradicts what the divisive broadcaster repeatedly used to say during his tenure on Good Morning Britain, when he would often goad BBC rival Dan Walker over their respective ratings.

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