Social media often features photographs taken by irate passengers posting about inconsiderate travellers putting their feet on seats or headrests.
But all should give thanks they weren’t sitting in front of Ed Balls –which was TV presenter Susanna Reid’s misfortune.
In a trailer for a debate on the subject of public transport etiquette, ITV’s Good Morning Britain thought it would be a good idea to illustrate the issue using four mocked-up plane seats.
As Reid settled into her seat alongside the Daily Mirror’s political journalist Kevin Maguire, co-host Balls sat behind Reid and next to the Daily Mail political journalist Andrew Pierce.
Balls, the former shadow chancellor, settled comfortably back as Reid began: “Is it OK for Ed and Andrew then to …”
Just as she was posing the question, the former Labour minister swung both his feet on to her headrest, accidentally clipping the surprised presenter on the back of her head.
“Oooh…” she gasped, bending over and clutching her head in apparent pain.
“I just caught your head, I’m sorry,” exclaimed Balls, jumping from his “plane seat” to check she was all right.
“I think we’ve decided it’s not OK,” said a recovered Reid. “There we go. That was … I don’t know if I can carry on doing the programme,” she joked. “That’s our debate this morning, Should you put your feet up on the seats of public transport?”
Balls took full responsibility, holding both palms to the camera mouthing the words “hands up”.
Later in the show, Reid revealed that her eyesight “went blurry for 20 minutes” after the kick.
The trailer, posted on X, read: “You’ve paid for your ticket – whether it’s a plane trip or train ride, why shouldn’t you get comfy? But is it ever okay to put your feet up on the seat? @edballs might have answered that already.”
