Richard Madeley blasted over 'insensitive' question to David Ibbotson's family on 'Good Morning Britain'


He may be a veteran of daytime telly, but Richard Madeley got off to a bit of a rocky start as Piers Morgan’s Good Morning Britain stand-in on Monday morning.

Many viewers of the ITV breakfast news programme were left angry with Madeley over his questioning of missing pilot David Ibbotson’s family, branding the TV star insensitive.

Ibbotson was flying the plane that crashed over the English Channel carrying newly-signed Cardiff City player Emiliano Sala and although the footballer’s body and plane wreckage has been found, the pilot has yet to be recovered.

His wife Nora and daughter Danielle appeared on GMB to appeal for donations to help continue their search so that they could lay their loved one to rest, but viewers complained that Madeley’s line of questioning was thoughtless.

Many expressed outrage that he clumsily asked the family why they wanted Ibbotson’s body back, sparking a flurry of angry tweets about his insensitivity.

However, Danielle later tweeted that she felt the whole show’s team had been kind and helpful to her family.

Morgan and his co-host Susanna Reid are taking a break from the show ahead of presenting from the Oscars in Los Angeles later in February, but some GMB viewers said they hoped that Madeley would not be sticking around until then.

Those watching Madeley’s efforts also questioned his judgement over less serious issues, such as his chat with singer Katherine Jenkins.

Madeley was hosting the show alongside Kate Garraway while its regular presenters are off air.

He is best known for his years at the helm of This Morning with wife Judy Finnigan, which they hosted from 1988 to 2001.

The couple later launched another chat show, Richard & Judy, which aired from 2001 to 2009.

Read more
David Ibbotson ‘had some control of plane when it hit sea water’
Nantes players make emotional tribute to Emiliano Sala
Viewers switch channels as Gemma Collins debuts on Good Morning Britain