Kate Garraway has spoken out following the news that Piers Morgan has decided to leave Good Morning Britain.
The 55-year-old presenter announced he’s quit his role as anchor on the show on Tuesday afternoon.
Kate and co-host Ben Shephard paid tribute to the former newspaper editor on the programme following the news of his shock departure.
Ben, 45, quickly pointed out that mother-of-two Kate has been friends with Piers for a long time, even before he joined the ITV breakfast family back in 2015.
Kate said: “That’s the thing about Piers, he is very passionate, he does fly kites and have debates but it always come from a place of authenticity, he always believes in what he says.
Kate Garraway says her friendship with Piers Morgan will continue following his GMB exit
“And he’s left, he’s decided to quit and has he put it himself, ‘fallen on his sword of free speech’, but as you rightly say, I’ve known him a long time before this programme, our friendship will go on, our personal friendship, and he’s been very supportive of me personally.
“But year, it’s a different show but the show goes on.”
Dr Hilary Jones was also in the studio and joined in the discussion about Piers’ exit from the programme.
The health expert said: “I got into debates with him but he always held government ministers to account and asked the secondary questions.”
Kate and Piers have been close friends for years (Image: INSTAGRAM@THEPIERSMORGAN)
ITV announced on Tuesday evening that Piers has decided to leave his role after over five years as anchor on the breakfast show.
The official statement read: “Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain.
“ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add.”
He stormed off the GMB set during a huge row on Tuesday morning after weather presenter Alex Beresford criticised his reaction to Meghan’ Markles claims she contemplated suicide and was racially abused by the Royal Family.
Piers announced he’s quit his role as anchor on Good Morning Britain on Tuesday afternoon (Image: ITV)
The Sun reports that Piers was not willing to apologise, and walked – bringing an immediate end to his stint on the morning show.
He told reporters outside his house on Wednesday morning: “I had a good chat with ITV and we agreed to disagree.”
“I believe in freedom of speech, I believe in the right to be allowed to have an opinion. If people want to believe Meghan Markle, that’s entirely their right.
“I don’t believe almost anything that comes out of her mouth and I think the damage she’s done to the British monarchy and to the Queen at a time when Prince Philip is lying in hospital is enormous and frankly contemptible.
“If I have to fall on my sword for expressing an honestly held opinion about Meghan Markle and that diatribe of bilge that she came out with in that interview, so be it.”
Asked what he would say to his Good Morning Britain colleague, Alex Beresford, with whom he had a heated debate during Tuesday’s show, Morgan said: “Good luck to him.”
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV at 6am
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
