Good Morning Britain viewers were left feeling a bit 'sorry' for Gary Lineker as he appeared on the programme for the first time since his debacle with the BBC earlier this year.
Host Richard Madeley quizzed the Match of the Day host on the ITV news programme on Tuesday (May 23), about the tweet that saw him temporarily stand down from presenting the flagship BBC sports show.
Gary, who was taken off the BBC for days after tweeting that language used by the government about immigration was 'not dissimilar' to language used in 1930s Germany, was asked whether he still stood by his comments but instead of answering the question, the presenter claimed Richard had 'misrepresented him' by suggesting he compared the government to Nazi Germany.
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"You've misrepresented what I said, and that's what happened because of the Daily Mail headline which caused this furore in the first place," Gary hit back. He said: "I didn't compare the Government to the Nazis," adding that he said: "I was talking about some of the language that is not dissimilar."
He added: "All I was trying to say is, we can use kinder language." As Gary tried to steer away from the conversation, telling Richard "it is all water under the bridge", the host didn't let it go. As he continued to be pressed on what he tweeted that saw him temporarily taken off air, Gary said: "It was a very disproportionate story and kind of bonkers for a while."
He concluded: "I think it's really important if you've got a big platform to try and use it." But GMB viewers watching at home claimed the grilling of Gary was 'awkward' as he reminded the show's hosts that he was on to talk about the return of his ITV programme, Sitting on a Fortune.
@baggiepoint tweeted: "Well this is awkward #gmb." @kellymew_ said: "Poor @GaryLineker only went on to talk about his gameshow. #GMB." @MarkAshleyD posted: "Wow! @GMB you really made Richard take the smile off Gary’s face and the lightness of the interview away, just to look like a poor man’s Piers Morgan #GMB."
@KellyDe60668811 complained: "#GMB Why does Richard Madeley make things awkward this so uncomfortable to watch." @avraam2000 posted: "Richard is really grilling Lineker this morning #GMB." @ccshoreditch shared: "It's just excruciating watching Richard Madeley #GMB."
@sharon40971181 said: "Richard stop!! Gary pull your mic and walk off." @marian_mc54 fumed: "Wow go Gary! Madeley trying to trip you up! Nasty!". @shawzinhio added: "Shocking @GMB. Digging trying to create a story."
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