BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty seemed to take a veiled swipe at Piers Morgan and Good Morning Britain as their rivalry heats up.
Outspoken GMB host Piers has been vocal in his criticism of the BBC and particularly Naga’s co-host Dan Walker in recent weeks.
Piers has taken aim at the way the duo conduct interviews with government ministers over the coronavirus crisis, saying they’re too soft in contrast to his brand of fiery confrontation.
Now Naga appears to have bitten back as she urged viewers to remember the importance of the BBC – insisting that a licence fee is well worth it.
She reckons the broadcaster is there to keep viewers informed, and isn’t “ratings-driven” – GMB, and particularly Piers, openly seeks social media traction.
BBC Breakfast host Naga Munchetty seemed to take a veiled swipe at TV rival Piers Morgan (Image: BBC)
Chatting to Radio Times, Naga told: “There’s been noise about the licence fee for decades.
“But at Breakfast, we’re not ratings-driven, we’re not there to garner attention on social media.”
The 45-year-old added: “We’re there to provide a service and make sure people are informed, educated and entertained. I think a licence is worth that.”
Naga was rebuked by the BBC last year after she offered comment on US President Donald Trump’s remarks about a number of political opponents, who he said should “go back” to their own countries.
Piers has taken aim at the way BBC presenters conduct interviews with government ministers (Image: ITV)
However, Director Tony Hall reversed the decision and ruled Naga hadn’t broken any of the BBC’s guidelines.
In sharp contrast, Piers’ GMB appearances are laden with opinion, red-faced rants and soundbite-worthy rages.
Most recently, he’s become known for his grilling of government ministers over their handling of the coronavirus crisis.
He’s even managed to rack up complaints in the thousands registered to broadcast regulator Ofcom after savage confrontations with Health Secretary Matt Hancock and Care Minister Helen Whately.
Piers was cleared by Ofcom, who ruled he’d been fulfilling his journalistic duty.
He also claimed that the government had placed a “boycott” on GMB while he was still on presenting duties.
He’s currently getting some sun on a lavish family holiday in Saint Tropez, Hancock returning to ITV to chat to Lorraine.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
