Grant Shapps insists he'll MISS Piers Morgan's takedowns on GMB after ministers refused to go on show

GRANT Shapps has today insisted he will MISS Piers Morgan’s takedowns on Good Morning Britain after the host dramatically quit the show last night.

The Transport Secretary said he “always thought he gave a very tough but usually quite fair interview” – despite ministers refusing to go on the popular morning show.

? Follow our Piers Morgan live blog for the latest on his GMB exit…


Piers, 55, stunned fans when he walked out after senior execs wanted him to say sorry on air following his heated clash with the show’s weatherman Alex Beresford over Meghan Markle.

He stormed off set during the huge row on Tuesday morning after Alex criticised him for his reaction to Meghan's claims she contemplated suicide and was racially abused by the Royal Family.

But Piers said he was not willing to apologise, and walked – bringing an immediate end to his six-year stint on the morning show.

Susanna Reid paid an emotional tribute to her co-host this morning and now Mr Shapps has revealed he will “miss” being grilled by him.

PIERS QUITS

He told Sky News: “I'll miss the interviews with him. Personally I always thought he gave a very tough but usually quite fair interview.

“As with all interviewers I always found if you actually answered the question you tended to have an OK ride with him.

“If you didn't know the answer just say I don't know or if you do know you give the facts. Personally I'll miss him on there.”

Piers took to Twitter this morning to say he still doesn’t believe what Meghan said during her bombshell Oprah interview.

It comes as:

  • Susanna Reid pays emotional tribute to ‘outspoken & disruptive’ Piers 
  • Piers Morgan quit GMB after refusing to apologise on air
  • Ranvir Singh says Piers Morgan complaints 'had to be taken seriously'
  • What happened between Piers Morgan and Alex Beresford?
  • Here's why Piers isn't on GMB this morning

He said he has had time to reflect and came to that decision before thanking people for “all the love, and hate”.

He also quoted Sir Winston Churchill and signed off by writing: “I’m off to spend more time with my opinions."

Piers told his 7.8million followers: “On Monday, I said I didn’t believe Meghan Markle in her Oprah interview.

“I’ve had time to reflect on this opinion, and I still don’t. If you did, OK. Freedom of speech is a hill I’m happy to die on.

“Thanks for all the love, and hate. I’m off to spend more time with my opinions.”

If you didn't know the answer just say I don't know or if you do know you give the facts. Personally I'll miss him on there."

He quoted Churchill on free speech, adding: "Some people's idea of free speech is that they are free to say what they are like, but if anyone says anything back, that is an outrage."

Broadcasting regulator Ofcom revealed on Tuesday they had received 41,015 complaints about Monday’s episode of the show, prompting them to launch an investigation under their “harm and offence rules”.

Senior execs at the broadcaster were also concerned that his comments clashed with their landmark mental health campaign Get Britain Talking – prompting criticism from charity Mind.

Piers had previously said he “didn’t believe a word” of Meghan’s interview, in which she said she “didn’t want to be alive” after receiving heavy public scrutiny.

She also alleged an unnamed member of the royal family had raised concerns about her son Archie’s skin colour because Meghan is biracial.

In a statement, ITV confirmed last night: “Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain.

“ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add.”







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