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Piers Morgan steps down from 'Good Morning Britain' in the wake of Meghan Markle row

Piers Morgan quit as co-host of ITV's Good Morning Britain on Tuesday. (ITV)
Piers Morgan quit as co-host of ITV's Good Morning Britain on Tuesday. (ITV)

Piers Morgan has stepped down as host of Good Morning Britain.

A statement released by ITV on Monday evening read: "Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain.

"ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add."

Read more: Palace releases statement in response to Oprah interview

Morgan had walked off Tuesday's show during an argument, about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's interview with Oprah Winfrey, with weather presenter Alex Beresford.

The high-profile host, who joined Good Morning Britain in 2015, is also the subject of an investigation by Ofcom following comments he made about the Duchess of Sussex on Monday.

On Tuesday, the TV watchdog launched an investigation into his remarks, which came hours after the Winfrey interview aired in the US on Sunday. It was screened in the UK on Monday evening.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry with Oprah Winfrey. (Harpo Productions/ Photographer Joe Pugliese)
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during their interview with Oprah Winfrey. (Harpo Productions/ Photographer Joe Pugliese)

Ofcom received more than 41,000 complaints about Morgan's comments on Monday's edition of Good Morning Britain.

Read more: Alex Beresford responds to Piers Morgan row

The presenter dismissed Meghan’s claims, made to Winfrey, that she had had mental health issues and felt suicidal while she was a working member of the Royal Family.

An Ofcom spokesperson said: "We have launched an investigation into Monday’s episode of Good Morning Britain under our harm and offence rules."

Watch: Piers Morgan responds to Harry and Meghan's interview on Fox News

After a clip aired of Meghan discussing her issues with mental health and suicidal thoughts, and a royal official’s knowledge of them, Morgan said: "I’m sorry, I don’t believe a word she says."

“I wouldn’t believe her if she read me a weather report,” he added.

Morgan said Meghan had sparked an “onslaught” against the Royal Family.

His comments were criticised by mental health charity Mind.

The organisation previously said in a tweet it was “disappointed and concerned” by Morgan’s comments, adding: “It’s vital that, when people reach out for support or share their experiences of ill mental health, they are treated with dignity, respect and empathy.”

Piers Morgan stormed out of the GMB studio. (ITV)
Morgan stormed out of the GMB studio on Tuesday. (ITV)

During Tuesday’s programme, Morgan addressed his comments about Meghan’s mental health.

He said: "When we talked about this yesterday, I said as an all-encompassing thing I don’t believe what Meghan Markle is saying generally in this interview, and I still have serious concerns about the veracity of a lot of what she said.

"But let me just state on the record my position about mental illness and on suicide. These are clearly extremely serious things that should be taken extremely seriously, and if someone is feeling that way they should get the treatment and help they need every time."

Watch: Piers Morgan storms off the GMB set

Morgan had stormed off-set following a discussion about the duchess with his colleague Alex Beresford.

Weather presenter Beresford defended the couple, who have made global headlines following their bombshell interview with Winfrey.

He took Morgan to task, saying: "I understand you’ve got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle, or had one, and she cut you off.

"She’s entitled to cut you off if she wants to. Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don’t think she has but yet you continue to trash her."