Richard Madeley pleaded with his colleagues 'don't make me cry' after coming under fire from viewers over his behaviour during an interview on Good Morning Britain. The presenter was back at the helm of the ITV news programme on Wednesday (February 1) alongside Susanna Reid.
They were joined by Sean Fletcher who was on hand to deliver the latest news headlines to viewers. Among those being discussed was the handover of Eurovision from the previous host city Turin to Liverpool in a grand ceremony which celebrated Ukraine on Tuesday night (January 31).
The official keys of the Eurovision Song Contest, which will be held in the city in May, were handed from Mayor of Turin Stefano Lo Russo to the mayor of Liverpool Joanne Anderson who sealed the handover, known as the Insignia, with a handshake during the event held at St George’s Hall in Liverpool.
Rounding off one of his news segments on today's GMB, Sean said: "It will be quite an occasion. We're going to have a lot, a lot of laughs I think," copying the comments of a Liverpool citizen in the Eurovision package they aired. Richard then said: "And Liverpool had ITV This Morning too. From the Albert Dock. Those were the days."
Susanna replied: "Oh weren't they?" and Richard continued: "Oh Albert Dock was a great place to do the show." Susanna commented: "Lots of memories this morning," to which Richard then warned: "Don't make me cry."
Susanna also paid another tribute as she shared how it was the anniversary of TV-am, the TV company that broadcast the ITV franchise for breakfast television in the United Kingdom from 1 February 1983 until 31 December 1992. "40 years. Happy birthday to TV AM," she added: "Richard said: "TV-am. Yep. We have got the mugs - I don't think they are the originals anyway..." Susanna then said: "The reason we are all here..."
She then had to correct Richard who was mistakenly holding up his GMB mug, saying: "Those are our mugs." Richard replied: "Oh those are our mugs. What happened to the TV AM mugs? Where have they taken them? We had them, anyway... Nicked already."
The emotional look back came after Richard and Susanna by the joint general secretary of the National Education Union, Kevin Courtney, to discuss the impact of the teacher strikes happening on Wednesday with more to follow later this month and next month across different areas of the country.
Kicking off their interview, Richard asked: "Did you inform your teachers not to inform the head teachers if they were going on strike today?" To which Kevin replied: "We told them they had the right to do that because we have obeyed every part of the very strong anti-union laws in this country.
"People who are going on strike do not have to inform the employer beforehand, that division is there to stop potential intimidation. Not that we think that would happen in schools, but that is a right that people who are going on strike have and we told them they had that right."
But after not getting the direct answer he wanted to his initial question, Richard interrupted to ask his question by slowing down his speech and pausing between each word. He went on to ask Kevin: “Did. You. Tell. Your. Members. Not. To. Inform. Head. Teachers. If. They. Were. Going. On. Strike. Today.”
Richard then returned to his usual voice and asked: "Yes, or no, Sir." Kevin replied: “We told them that they had the right to do that because we have obeyed every part of the very strong anti-union laws in this country and people who are going on strike to not have to inform the employer beforehand. We told teachers about that right.”
Richard added: “Isn't it fair to let parents know if their school is going to be affected?” Kevin responded: “We told headteachers how many members were in their school and we think they should have planned on that basis." But as the interview unfolded, GMB viewers flocked to Twitter after the exchange to slam Richard's comments.
@Amy91T tweeted: "You. Are. So. Rude. Richard. Who the hell does this guy think he is!? #GMB." @MarieMarie19781 fumed: "How dare @richardm56 talk to this teacher the way he is? it's just rude. I can't watch. @GMB #GMB." @MeeshyJay complained: "Richard Madeley talking to this guy like he’s talking to a three year old made my blood boil. Patronising and unbearable #gmb."
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