Good Morning Britain host forced to leave studio as guest returns – after backlash over 16,000 Ofcom complaints
ED Balls was forced to leave the Good Morning Britain studio while hosting – to make way for his wife.
The former Labour MP bowed out in a desperate bid to avoid further Ofcom backlash over interviewing his other half, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
GMB became the second most complained about show of the year when 16,783 furious viewers argued against the “inappropriate” interview on August 5.
Revealing the familiar guest’s return to the programme, Ed’s co-host Susanna Reid told viewers: “We’re joined by the Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper, next…”
Ed interjected: “Who, as you know, is my wife, so I’ll sit this one out…
“Susanna and I will be joined by Andrew Pierce and Kevin Maguire right after that.”
Angry viewers blasted the show for allowing former shadow Home Secretary to interview his wife about the attack in Southport, which claimed the lives of three children.
Despite the uproar, Ofcom ruled it would not launch an investigation into the programme.
However, ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall vowed the same scenario would not be repeated.
Ed served as Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families under Tony Blair and then as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer.
He tied the knot with Yvette Cooper in 1998 and they share three children together.
They went on to become the first ever married couple to serve alongside each other in the British Cabinet back in 2008.