Union boss Mike Lynch joked Richard Madeley is an “Alan Partridge character” during a live debate for the Mirror after an earlier row with the TV presenter.
Mr Lynch, General Secretary of the RMT Union, joined RCN nurses union leader Pat Cullen, TUC's Frances O’Grady, Sharon Grahamof Unite, train workers' union leaders Mick Whelan of Aslef and education union leaders Jo Grady of the UCU and NEU’s Kevin Courtney for our Facebook Live chat.
Among the topics covered by the panel were why members require pay rises, as well as the threat to jobs and how people are having to use foodbanks.
One of the last questions posed by the public referenced a falling out between Mr Lynch and Mr Madeley on Good Morning Britain.
The RMT man quipped on our channel: “Richard, well, if there’s an Alan Partridge character in a pantomime coming up he’s got the part.”
He added: “The mainstream media is under pressure from advertisers, the BBC is under a lot of pressure politically from the Tories and I think they’ve collapsed a bit.
“What I’m glad about is all the young people on alternative channels, and the Mirror is getting into it now, willing to put out unfiltered trade union news.
“That’s a real positive development because some people don't trust the mainstream media as it’s called and they’re going to other places.
“It has been a great part of this dispute.”
Mr Lynch had been answering a question from the public who had quipped: “Can the panel have a minute’s silence for Richard Madeley please.”
The pair had earlier clashed live on ITV ’s Good Morning Britain when the presenter and Kate Garraway discussed the train strikes over the Christmas and festive period.
The interview soon turned sour as Richard accused Mr Lynch and the union of "robbing" businesses of their festive income and causing travel chaos, particularly at this time of year.
Mr Lynch insisted: “We're not targeting Christmas Richard, it's not Christmas yet.
I don't know when your Christmas starts but mine starts on Christmas Eve. So we are striking at this time because we've got -"
Richard jumped in and called Mr Lynch "disingenuous" over his comments, adding repeatedly: "You're disingenuous, you're disingenuous."
Mr Lynch went to speak to say it wasn't but Richard still continued to carry on as Mr Lynch said "if you could let me finish" before the pair found themselves in a heated clash as they rowed over the strikes.
