GMB star reveals hidden talent as he forms unlikely band with famous ITV presenter
GOOD Morning Britain star Ed Balls has formed an unlikely partnership with ITV stablemate Robert Peston.
The politically savvy duo have formed a band named Centrist Dad and made their live debut at York Rise, North London, last weekend.
Ex Labour cabinet minister Ed and journalist Robert covered the Sex Pistols during their set, pulling off a raucous rendition of Anarchy in the UK in front of a receptive audience.
Peston, 63, took on frontman duties prowling around like a more mild-mannered John Lydon, while Ed, 56, bashed the drums in the background.
Rounding off the quartet were Radio 4 host John Wilson on bass and Chris Taylor on guitar.
Taking to the stage at 3pm, the band also played classic tracks Teenage Kicks by The Undertones and One Way or Another by Blondie.
In the aftermath, Ed wrote on Instagram: “Humour us. We had fun.”
Former Labour leader Ed Miliband and current leader Sir Keir Starmer certainly did and were spotted bopping around to the group in the audience.
The event’s website states: “The York Rise Street party is an annual neighbourhood get together with music, cinema, art, theatre, more music, food, drink, green street, activities, stalls, talks and lots more.”
Ed touched on the performance on Monday’s Good Morning Britain, telling co-host Susanna Reid that “dads are supposed to be embarrassing.”
The ex Shadow Chancellor went on to say that his three children – Joe, Maddy and Ellie – weren’t left too red-faced by it.
He said: “Actually, their view was, it wasn’t as embarrassing as they expected. They think the name ‘Centrist Dad’ is terrible; appalling! My son said, ‘Owen Jones will hate it.’”