Yahoo News GMB vs BBC Breakfast: The 7 testiest exchanges yet
The friendly competition between Good Morning Britain and BBC Breakfast has transformed into full-blown rivalry over the years.
Not only do the two shows go head-to-head every weekday, but ITV notoriously pinched presenter Susanna Reid from the Beeb back in 2014. When Piers Morgan joined the programme a year later, he pretty much declared war.
Ever since, he's unsurprisingly been at the centre of most of the drama, with his rival Dan Walker defending the Beeb valiantly as the two presenters take the occasional cheap shot at each other on social media.
Sure, it seems to be tongue-in-cheek – at least we hope it is – but that hasn't stopped us from reaching for the popcorn and sitting back every time the sharp-tongued frenemies hurl insults at each other. Here, we take a look back at some of the most entertaining moments from the ongoing feud to date.
1. "Do your employers even know who you are?"
Back in February, Dan innocently asked his Twitter followers who was tuning into BBC Breakfast – and it didn't take long for Piers to bite, cheekily telling his rival that fans were tuning into Good Morning Britain instead.
Dan fired back with some wit, describing the dig as "fake news". But Piers then got the upper hand by publishing a screengrab of a mistake on the BBC's official social media account in which an employee accidentally called Dan "Charlie Stayt". Captioning the post, Piers wrote: "No offence @mrdanwalker – but do your employers even know who you are?"
Although the BBC host had some numbers to back the Beeb up in the battle of the ratings, shots were definitely fired that morning.
It didn't take long for the pair to be at loggerheads again – by the next month, the two locked horns on social media after Piers took an on-air dig at weather woman Carol Kirkwood, jokingly describing her as "universally reviled" when she beat GMB's own Laura Tobin to an award.
He even compared her to Donald Trump before admitting he loves her really. However, that didn't stop Dan seizing the opportunity for a dig as he tweeted: "I don't mind you lying about your viewing figures but lay off [Carol Kirkwood]. She is queen. You are one of her subjects."
Bow down, Piers.
3. Piers takes it to the papers
Over summer, the rivalry went beyond social media and on-air cheap shots, with Piers discussing the ratings battle in an interview with The Mirror, claiming Good Morning Britain's numbers had risen by 10% over recent months.
It's not like Piers to mince his words, and he certainly didn't hold back as he took aim at BBC Breakfast, claiming bosses were "rattled" as the ITV show continued to build its own audience and become a favourite for many across the nation.
"I am encouraged by our share of the audience, which has got right into them and we have rattled them," he said. "They are rattled for the first time in quite a few years and that is quite pleasing."
Piers then hinted at some common ground, admitting he admires rival Dan as a broadcaster. But the ceasefire didn't last.
4. Grenfell Tower row
The feud continued following the horrific Grenfell Tower fire, with Piers complaining after Sir Michael Fallon reportedly backed out of an interview with GMB hours before going to air, only to appear on BBC Breakfast instead.
He said: "He's over on the BBC now, so if you want to get a load of nice soft balls to Michael Fallon, go and watch the BBC, be my guest – he should have been here answering tough questions about what the Government is doing to handle what I think is the worst disaster crisis we've had to deal with in decades."
Dan did hit back to encourage viewers to tune in, but Piers was on the warpath and didn't back down. He blasted Dan's credentials, describing him as a "football presenter", and snubbed the idea of a charity boxing match by saying his rival would "just stand there politely waiting for me to punch him".
No Christmas cards between the pair this year then?
5. BBC pay scandal
Piers wasn't going to resist having a laugh with Dan back in July when the Beeb revealed the salaries of its highest-earning stars.
He kick-started the banter by asking his frenemy to appear on GMB to discuss his pay cheque. Now, while we'd have loved to see the pair actually face off on the telly, it wasn't to be.
Brilliantly, Dan turned the tongue-in-cheek offer down, saying he would be too busy presenting "the nation's no. 1 breakfast show". Not to be outdone, Piers tweeted back: "Is that the one losing viewers at the same rate we're gaining them?"
When the Beeb later revealed Dan's salary (£200k-£249k), Piers wasn't done, as he added: "So one eighth of a Lineker." Absolutely savage.
6. "I just see your falling numbers"
Just last month, it was time for Piers to reignite the war of words on social media, as he took another playful dig after Dan tweeted his delight over the week's "great" ratings for BBC Breakfast, and encouraged viewers to keep tuning in.
A fair tweet, and one we're sure everyone can accept – nothing wrong with a bit of professional pride, after all. However, Dan's GMB rival didn't quite see it that way – what a surprise.
"I just see your numbers falling every day mate," he responded, referencing GMB closing the gap on its Beeb competition. "Did you tweet this by mistake?"
Cheeky, Piers. Very cheeky.
7. Piers turns on Naga Munchetty
At least it's not personal, we guess? Last month, Piers took a break from his rivalry with Dan to take a bit of a sly – and teasing – dig at BBC Breakfast's Naga Munchetty, who found herself on the National Reality TV Awards shortlist for best presenter, alongside GMB's Susanna, as well as ITV star Lorraine Kelly.
"I am not nominated," he moaned. "Someone called Naga Munchetty is though? Don't know who that is…" Hmm... Why were we not entirely convinced? Susanna was quick to step in and point out she was a presenter for the rival show.
We get the feeling this might not be the end of the battle of the breakfast shows – fingers crossed, anyway...
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