John Cleese tells Ed Balls to shut up during Good Morning Britain interview

Watch: John Cleese tells Ed Balls to 'shut up' on GMB

What did you miss?

John Cleese told Ed Balls to "shut up" during a somewhat strained exchange on Good Morning Britain.

The Fawlty Towers star appeared live in the studio of the ITV breakfast show but was not impressed with the former Labour MP's interview technique.

And when Balls told him: "It's what interviewers do," the 83-year-old Monty Python star pointed out he had taken part in quit a number of interviews over his 60 year career.

What, how, and why?

Cleese sat down on the sofa with Balls and Susanna Reid to discuss his new GB News chat show The Dinosaur Hour.

The actor and comedian said: "They made me, Ed, the best offer anyone has ever made anyone in television. They came to me..."

Balls interrupted: "You're the only presenter joining them rather than leaving them at the moment."

Cleese appeared not to have heard and asked: "What?"

Balls repeated himself and Cleese replied: "Well they're clearing out a certain amount, which is not a bad idea, because they do believe in free speech..."

Balls interrupted again: "Get the old wood out and the new blood in."

Cleese said: "Will you shut up!"

There was some awkward laughter and Reid said: "Yeah, you asking a question and then talking over the answer I suppose."

Cleese said: "He's getting another question in. You might have told me which one you want me to answer."

Balls said: "It's what us interviewers do, you'll find out.

Cleese said through pursed lips: "Yes I know. I've done quite a few."

What else did John Cleese say on GMB?

The comedy star also revealed he in not brining his latest comedy tour to the UK because of bad reviews from the British media.

Cleese is about to begin a 24 date tour of the US with his newest live show An Evening With The Late John Cleese.

Reid asked if he will be bringing his stand-up show to the UK.

Cleese said: "The last time I did it, which was 2008, the newspapers came to the first night, which is not fair — it's like going to a training ground and criticising the players. It takes a lot of time to get comedy right — you need a few shows in front of an audience.

"But they all said — it was a very bad theatre, The Corn Exchange in Cambridge which is very long and bad for comedy. But they just killed [it]. All of the reviews were very, very negative.

"A friend of mine, Sir Tony Jay, [co-writer of sitcom] Yes Minister, came to see it at the end of the tour and he said, 'Do you get a standing ovation every night?!' and I said, 'Yes.' And he was astounded because he'd read the Daily Mail."

But the Monty Python star hinted he may change his mind.

When Reid asked: "So no more tours in the UK?", Cleese replied: "Well, I'm getting less frightened of the press now."

Good Morning Britain airs on ITV from 6am to 9am from Monday to Friday.

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