James Argent turns down booze in 'Good Morning Britain' debut

James “Arg” Argent has made his presenting debut on Good Morning Britain – but was hit by an awkward moment when Kate Garraway tried to offer the recovering addict a cocktail live on air.

The Only Way is Essex star probably wouldn’t have expected to have to turn down a drink on breakfast TV, but unfortunately he made his appearance on a day when his colleagues were cracking open the cans.

Read more: Gemma Collins threw Arg’s bags out during row

Hosts Richard Madeley and Garraway were talking about Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott having been spotted drinking a can of mojito on the tube over the weekend, and brought out their own canned cocktails as props.

But Garraway managed to make a blunder as she encouraged Arg to have a try of the drink at around 6am, forcing him to explain that he’d been sober for eight months.

As Garraway offered him the drink, she said: “Would you like to try a bit? Come on!”

He replied: “Do you know what? I’m going to say no because I’m eight months clean and sober.”

The reality star then added about Abbott: “I’m not against her having a good time. I was actually thinking is she an Essex girl. It’s very much an Essex girl thing to do – a little cheeky mojito on the tube.”

Arg was briefly suspended from Towie in 2014 when a drugs test showed up traces of cocaine, and then on-off girlfriend Lydia Bright caught him using again in 2016.

Read more: Arg ‘tells Gemma Collins she has more rolls than Greggs’

He is now in a relationship with fellow Towie star Gemma Collins, who has also presented showbiz news on Good Morning Britain, and has spent periods of time in treatment for his addictions since 2016, including three months in a Thai centre in 2017.

Last August, Arg went back into rehab over a relapse during a brief spit from Collins, and says he has now not used any substances for eight months.

Garraway apologised for the incident, while Madeley chipped in that he had been sober since November, except for occasions like trying the mojito on air which apparently “didn’t count”.

Arg’s appearance didn’t go off without a few hitches – he accidentally dropped a massive Line of Duty spoiler about a shock character death, and quickly disappeared when ex Bright and her entire family arrived as guests for the final interview of the show.