Yahoo News Good Morning Britain receives 283 Ofcom complaints in four days
Good Morning Britain has been hit with 283 Ofcom complaints in less than a week.
The ITV morning news programme, hosted by Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid from Mondays to Thursdays, has been on the receiving end of criticism over how it has reported on the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
Complaints about the programme peaked last week on Tuesday June 23, when Morgan, 54, fell out with co-anchor Reid, 49, about a statement made by health minister Helen Whately.
When Reid tried to read the statement, Morgan stuck his fingers in his ears, fuming: “If they're boycotting us, I'm going to boycott their stupid little statements.”
After particularly combative interviews with MPs earlier in the year, GMB has failed to attract ministers to talk on the show.
Ministers have failed to appear on the programme in over 60 days.
The show then drew further controversy after rapper Dizzee Rascal swore live on air when he refused to be drawn into debate over the Black Lives Matter movement.
A spokesperson for Ofcom told Evening Standard: "We received a total of 283 complaints against Good Morning Britain between 22-24 June, across a range of issues."
Morgan has been at the centre of controversy on Good Morning Britain in more recent months, after receiving over 4000 complaints in regards to his interviewing style.
However, Ofcom decided not to investigate the former newspaper editor and cleared him of any wrong-doing explaining that viewers would “expect him to challenge senior politicians and hold them to account.”
“[Morgan’s] guests were given adequate opportunity to put their points across and counter the presenter's criticisms," the statement read.
"In Ofcom's view, in line with freedom of expression, it is clearly in the public interest that broadcasters are able to hold those making political decisions to account, particularly during a major national crisis, such as the coronavirus pandemic.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV
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