Susanna Reid: what did the GMB presenter say about former co-host Piers Morgan's departure?

The morning after Piers Morgan left his role on Good Morning Britain, former co-host Susanna Reid had her say on the firebrand presenter’s departure.

The presenter told viewers on March 10: “Some of you may cheer, and others will boo” at his departure, adding that he was an “opinionated” and “disruptive” broadcaster.

Reid neither praised nor criticised Morgan who stormed off the set of the show on March 9 int he wake of widespread criticism for comments on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Markle expressed that she had struggled with suicidal thoughts which Morgan refuted.

On Tuesday morning, Mr Morgan said: “I’m sorry, I don’t believe a word she said, Meghan Markle. I wouldn’t believe it if she read me a weather report.”

Ms Reid told him that his comments were a “pathetic reaction to someone who has expressed those thoughts.”

What did Susanna Reid say?

In an on-air statement on Wednesday morning, Ms Reid said: “Piers and I have disagreed on many things, and that dynamic was one of the things that viewers loved about the programme.

“He is without doubt an outspoken, challenging, opinionated, disruptive broadcaster.

“He has many critics and he has many fans.

“You all know that I disagreed with him about Meghan’s interview,” the 50-year-old continued, “and he himself clarified his own comments about her mental health on the show yesterday.

“There are many voices on GMB, and everyone has their say. But now Piers has decided to leave the programme.

“Some of you may cheer, and others will boo.”

She added: “He has been my presenting partner - Monday to Wednesday - for more than five years, and during Brexit, and the pandemic, and other issues, he has been a voice for many of you, and a voice that many of you railed against.

“It is certainly going to be very different, but shows go on - and so, on we go.”

What did Piers Morgan say about his departure?

The presenter left the ITV morning show following a backlash against his incendiary comments about Meghan and her headline-making interview.

Broadcaster ITV announced in a brief statement late on Tuesday that Morgan was leaving the programme.

peaking outside his London home on Wednesday morning, the presenter described his departure from the programme as “amicable”, adding: “I had a good chat with ITV and we agreed to disagree.

“I’m just going to take it easy and see how we go.

“I believe in freedom of speech, I believe in the right to be allowed to have an opinion. If people want to believe Meghan Markle, that’s entirely their right.

“I don’t believe almost anything that comes out of her mouth and I think the damage she’s done to the British monarchy and to the Queen at a time when Prince Philip is lying in hospital is enormous and frankly contemptible.

“If I have to fall on my sword for expressing an honestly-held opinion about Meghan Markle and that diatribe of bilge that she came out with in that interview, so be it.”