Ben Shephard makes light of Piers Morgan’s Good Morning Britain storm off

Ben Shephard made light of Piers Morgan’s Good Morning Britain storm off during today’s instalment.

The presenter made headlines when he walked off set during a discussion with Alex Beresford, regarding Meghan Markle’s bombshell interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Piers later announced his departure from GMB after his comments on the Duchess of Sussex’s mental health sparked intense backlash from viewers – and received 41,000 Ofcom complaints.

Ben made a joke of his former colleague’s antics on this morning’s episode, during a discussion about the news headlines of the day with Iain Dale, Jacqui Smith and Chris Ship.

Moving the chat along at one point, he joked: ‘Ian, we’re not going to come to you on Harry and Meghan because I sort of imagine that you may leave, and we don’t want that.

‘We’ve had enough of that this week…,’ he added as his co-stars giggled.

Tensions flared on the ITV series earlier this week when Piers and Alex clashed over Meghan and Prince Harry’s interview – and the response to their bombshells.

Piers caused outrage when he announced that he did not believe Meghan’s claims of feeling suicidal and disagreed with her allegations that a member of the Royal family had expressed ‘concerns’ about the colour of her son Archie’s skin before he was born.

Alex has been praised around the world for his response to the Life Stories host’s rant, telling him: ‘I understand that you don’t like Meghan Markle you’ve made that so clear a number of times on this programme. 

‘I understand that you’ve got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle or had one and she cut you off.

‘She’s entitled to cut you off if she wants to. Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don’t think she has but yet you continue to trash her.’

Piers was left unimpressed by the turn their chat had taken, and stormed off set, fuming: ‘I’m done with this. Sorry. You can trash me, mate, but not on my own show.’

‘See you later, can’t do this,’ he added, as Susanna Reid attempted in vain to diffuse the situation.

He eventually returned to finish off the show – which turned out to be his last.

ITV announced that the presenter had decided to leave Good Morning Britain, amid mounting complaints from upset viewers.

It has been claimed that the reason for Piers’s resignation was that he refused to issue an apology to Meghan on-air, choosing to walk away instead. 

Following his exit, he ruled out a comeback, after nearly 200,000 fans signed a petition demanding his return.

Addressing the petition on Twitter, he tweeted: ‘I won’t be going back, but thanks to everyone who has signed these petitions. 

‘Normally, people start petitions to have me fired or deported, so this is a pleasant surprise.’

Piers has yet to share his next career step – with many convinced he will be signing for GB News.

Good Morning Britain continues on weekdays, at 6am, on ITV.

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