Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid was forced to apologise after a guest on Wednesday’s show branded former health secretary Matt Hancock “a d***head” live on air.
Daily Mail journalist and radio host Andrew Pierce made the remark on November 2, when he took part in a discussion about the shock announcement that the former politician would be taking part in this year’s I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
During the debate, alongside Reid’s co-host Ed Balls and Daily Mirror associate editor Kevin Maguire, Reid pointed out that Hancock had signed up to the ITV series in a bid to bring awareness to dyslexia.
“Do you know what? I feel sorry for the guy,” she commented. “Because I wonder whether this is one of the biggest risks he’s taking.
“It just gives everybody the opportunity to have a go at him, but he has an important and rather noble reason –”
To which Pierce interjected: “Well, yes, his children or one of his children has dyslexia…”
'He will be a laughing stock.'
— Good Morning Britain (@GMB) November 2, 2022
'Unless he succeeds?'
'We've known Matt Hancock for a long time, when they see him warts and all it will not be pleasant.'@toryboypierce and @Kevin_Maguire react to reports Matt Hancock will be appearing on I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! pic.twitter.com/YovG0G8kfq
Reid added: “I thought it was Matt Hancock himself who had been diagnosed?”
The journalist then asked: “Well maybe, but how much is that going to compensate?
“It would all be about... ‘You’re a complete whotsit-head, you’re a d***head.’ Can I say that?”
A mortified Reid then informed him “No! You can’t say that!, before quickly apologising to those tuned in.
Although, Pierce remarked: “Well, I’ve said it, now.”
Continuing the debate, former Labour MP Ed Balls questioned: “The British way is we knock people down and then we see, and he’s going to be knocked down, but will he have the strength, the personality, and the authenticity..?”
However, the Daily Mail journalist broke him off by saying Mr Hancock would become “the laughingstock” of the jungle series, adding: “No, he won’t get up, no. He’s the laughingstock and will be the laughingstock.”
“Unless he succeeds,” Balls responded, which left Pierce sighing.
However, many viewers watching the moment at home seemed amused by the unexpected outburst and took to Twitter to share their thoughts.
“Andrew Pierce had gone up in my estimation for calling Matt Hancock a d***head live on TV,” one tweeted.
Another commented: “The use of the word d***head on daytime tv is totally acceptable when referring to Matt Hancock.”
It was reported on Tuesday that the West Suffolk MP will swap representing his constituents at Westminster for eating bugs on I’m A Celeb, according to The Sun.
Mr Hancock was forced to quit as health secretary after breaking coronavirus lockdown rules by conducting an affair in his ministerial office.
His decision to go on a reality show has been met with widespread criticism, including from campaigners for families bereaved in the Covid pandemic. His decision saw Mr Hancock’s Tory whip swiftly removed.
Chief Whip Simon Hart MP said: “Following a conversation with Matt Hancock, I have considered the situation and believe this is a matter serious enough to warrant suspension of the whip with immediate effect.”
Rishi Sunak criticised Mr Hancock for going on the ITV show in the middle of a worsening cost-of-living crisis.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “The Prime Minister believes that, at a challenging time for the country, MPs should be working hard for their constituents, whether that’s in the House (of Commons) or indeed in their constituency.”
