Robert Peston bangs head on desk in frustration after Sir Michael Fallon interview

Robert Peston was left banging his head on a desk after challenging Sir Michael Fallon over his attacks on Jeremy Corbyn’s terror views.

The ITV host was seen slamming his head on to the table after a frustrating encounter with the Defence Secretary.

During the interview, Sir Michael insisted that Mr Corbyn had attempted to draw links between British foreign policy and terror attacks.

Mr Peston hit back: "He said no such thing."

Frustrated: Robert Peston (ITV)
Frustrated: Robert Peston (ITV)

Sir Michael replied: "He did. I've got his words here.

“He said foreign policy has been increasing the threat to this country.

"He said that in his speech on Friday and this is nonsense."

Mr Peston intervened, saying: "This is not the same thing as saying the terrorist attacks are our fault.

"Boris Johnson, the Foreign Secretary, made exactly the same point a few years ago."

The pair failed to agree on Mr Johnson's words about the Iraq War, which were reportedly written in 2005 following the 7/7 London bombings.

Mr Peston could be seen hitting his head on the desk as the credits rolled at the end of the Peston On Sunday interview, where he also grilled Sir Michael on Conservative plans for social care and immigration.

The awkward interview came after an embarrassing appearance on Channel 4 News where Sir Michael criticised comments made by Boris Johnson on terror, thinking they had been spoken by Mr Corbyn.

He had to backtrack when presenter Krishnan Guru-Murthy read out extracts Mr Johnson's article.

The piece said: "In other words, the Iraq war did not create the problem of murderous Islamic fundamentalists, though the war has unquestionably sharpened the resentments felt by such people in this country, and given them a new pretext.

"The Iraq war did not introduce the poison into our bloodstream but, yes, the war did help to potentiate that poison."

Sir Michael became flustered, before adding: "Well I would have to see the words you are trying to quote to me, I don't have them in front of me."

Senior Conservatives have been lining up to attack Mr Corbyn over his record on terrorist groups, with polls showing Labour is narrowing the gap ahead of the June 8 election.