This from an Express article last December. He tweeted: “*BREAKING NEWS* After weeks of frenzied global, possibly galactic speculation, I’m delighted to announce I’ve just signed a new 2-year deal with ITV to co-present @GMB & two more 5-part series of Life Stories.”
I thought he was in a contract until the end of next year??? I'm sure he said that when he was having one of his fits the other week after an MP accused him of bullying.
Have read a rumour that his pay has been cut as part of this. For all his bluster about holding the government to account, he seems to have turned the GMB brand toxic. The government don’t want to go on it (yet they’re happy to appear elsewhere, including Kay Burley’s show despite her similar reputation). This isn’t good for the show. They’re having to fill time with stories about nurses and care home residents that, yes, are very worthy, but come across as slightly disingenuous when Piers then tries, usually unsuccessfully, to get an opinion on the government from them that matches his own. It’s gone from being an entertaining show with lively debates to uncomfortable ranting mixed with faux-sincerity.
Have read a rumour that his pay has been cut as part of this. For all his bluster about holding the government to account, he seems to have turned the GMB brand toxic. The government don’t want to go on it (yet they’re happy to appear elsewhere, including Kay Burley’s show despite her similar reputation). This isn’t good for the show. They’re having to fill time with stories about nurses and care home residents that, yes, are very worthy, but come across as slightly disingenuous when Piers then tries, usually unsuccessfully, to get an opinion on the government from them that matches his own. It’s gone from being an entertaining show with lively debates to uncomfortable ranting mixed with faux-sincerity.
I personally think that it's morely down to the government refusing to face proper scrutiny, and as such, they have to fill time with other features which might not fit in as much to the pandemic situation - it's not Piers' fault that they won't man up and appear on the programme.
Yes, no point going on GMB for politicians when he doesn’t give them the space to get their argument across. Approach is very tabloid and simplistic. He is sometimes right and he is sometimes very entertaining as a result. But he is very much a poor mans Andrew Neil or Paxman when it comes to serious political interviewing.
Have read a rumour that his pay has been cut as part of this. For all his bluster about holding the government to account, he seems to have turned the GMB brand toxic. The government don’t want to go on it (yet they’re happy to appear elsewhere, including Kay Burley’s show despite her similar reputation). This isn’t good for the show. They’re having to fill time with stories about nurses and care home residents that, yes, are very worthy, but come across as slightly disingenuous when Piers then tries, usually unsuccessfully, to get an opinion on the government from them that matches his own. It’s gone from being an entertaining show with lively debates to uncomfortable ranting mixed with faux-sincerity.
I do wonder how much longer it is though until the government start to blacklist Sky or reduce appearance on it significantly. In the last 7 days or so Sophy Ridge, Beth Rigby and Kay have all skewered various government ministers and officials with the clips often going viral so I wouldn't be surprised if members of the government start to boycott the way they have say Newsnight.
Have to admit I've been watching more morning news in recent weeks and have found myself drifting to Kay's show - it's got more of a bite than Breakfast without descending into the bear pit atmosphere GMB can have. And I quite like the presentation in the Glass Box.
Yes, no point going on GMB for politicians when he doesn’t give them the space to get their argument across. Approach is very tabloid and simplistic. He is sometimes right and he is sometimes very entertaining as a result. But he is very much a poor mans Andrew Neil or Paxman when it comes to serious political interviewing.
Piers is a good interviewer on Life Stories but on GMB, it doesn't work as he lets his anger get the better of him.
Piers doesn’t give “proper scrutiny”, he screams about things without any thought for detail, reason and nuance. Scrutiny that most certainly is not.
If you want proper scrutiny, tune into the excellent Sophy Ridge on Sunday to see how it is done.
Piers just asks for yes or no answers, and when he doesn’t get that answer within 5 seconds, just shouts all over the top of them or goes off on one with fake emotive outrage
I remember one where he kept asking over and over for a particular number of something and then when the minster said he didn’t have that statistic to hand, he launched off one about the minister using the word statistic.
It's no surprise that politicians don't want to go on the programme. Put yourself in their position. You know if you go on GMB that you're going to get shouted at and berated (for things which may quite possibly have nothing to do with you), be forced into giving yes/no answers to complex questions, and be talked over. An 'interview' conducted by Piers is no more than him having a go at someone and telling them they're wrong if they don't agree with his (more often than not inexpert) view. This then generates a series of tweets and tabloid articles about how 'Morgan SKEWERED [politician] in EXPLOSIVE interview', generally featuring clips which are edited to only show a tiny snapshot of what happened, almost always making the guest look like they don't know the facts and presented as though Piers is simply holding the big bad politician to account. For me, it's just the lowest form of 'journalism' and ITV could
and should
do so much better.
It's no surprise that politicians don't want to go on the programme. Put yourself in their position. You know if you go on GMB that you're going to get shouted at and berated (for things which may quite possibly have nothing to do with you), be forced into giving yes/no answers to complex questions, and be talked over. An 'interview' conducted by Piers is no more than him having a go at someone and telling them they're wrong if they don't agree with his (more often than not inexpert) view. This then generates a series of tweets and tabloid articles about how 'Morgan SKEWERED [politician] in EXPLOSIVE interview', generally featuring clips which are edited to only show a tiny snapshot of what happened, almost always making the guest look like they don't know the facts and presented as though Piers is simply holding the big bad politician to account. For me, it's just the lowest form of 'journalism' and ITV could
and should
do so much better.
It's telling that they'd rather go on This Morning instead of GMB.
Unfortunately with Piers Morgan it's important to know everything about everything (even things that don't happen under your watch) otherwise you can just expect a really really tough, usually unfair, time.