Les Dennis has never forgotten his feud with Piers Morgan, with the dislike dating back over 21 years.
While their feud stemmed from one place, the pair have continued to recognise their disdain for one another in the years that followed, with Les reportedly refusing to appear on any shows with Piers. In fact, it was also said that he was “banned” from Good Morning Britain.
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However it seems his “ban” from GMB ended with Piers’ exit as Les was officially announced as the last contestant for Strictly Come Dancing on the morning show. The news was confirmed by Ben Shephard and Ranvir Singh – so Piers wasn’t in sight.
With 21 years passing since Les and Piers’ feud begun, there would be hopes it would fizzle out, but it’s reported that they still avoid one another.
As Les continues to make his way onto the Strictly dance floor and we look back at his career, one thing is unforgettable – and that’s his feud with Piers. So what kicked it all off? Let’s take a look.
Angry letter
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
When Les and Amanda Holden were starting to see their marriage break down, they were under close scrutiny.
After an article about her getting a kiss on the cheek from her friend emerged from the Mirror, Les wrote a letter to Piers Morgan, which Piers later printed in his autobiography. He said: “Amanda and I are very strong and will not be rocked by such salacious and vindictive gossip.
“It seems she cannot be seen out in public without your ‘girls’ suggesting there is something furtive and underhand going on. Andy’s a valued friend of ours and it’s a sad reflection on our times if a man is chivalrous and offers a woman a lift home and it is reported as something sordid.
“Finally I take exception to being given patronising advice from your staff. I am not a victim and can make my own mind up about the future of my marriage. I was not sitting sadly at home. I was working. As it is, we now feel like prisoners in our own home again.”
Les also gave a nod to the fact that Piers said in his book: “I rather admire him for writing to me like that.”
‘Pathetic’ headline
(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Their feud only developed further when Piers wrote a headline about Les after he appeared on Celebrity Big Brother which read: “Is this the most pathetic man in Britain?”
All of this surrounded Les’ relationship breakdown with Amanda, but it doesn’t seem Amanda and Piers have faced the same issue. The pair worked together on Britain’s Got Talent from 2007 until 2011 and remained close friends for many years after that.
Amanda’s affair
(Image: ITV)
Piers was also the one who exposed the affair in 2000 when he worked at the editor of the Mirror. Despite all of this, Amanda was happy to repair their friendship, previously telling The Times: “Piers is a poacher turned gamekeeper, isn’t he? He was the youngest ever Mirror editor and had something to prove, so he was like a dog with a bone with me.”
“If I had a problem I’d call Piers in the middle of the night and I know he’d help me. I know he’s not everyone’s cup of tea and 100 per cent I don’t agree with him on a lot of things.”
‘Banned’ from GMB
(Image: PA)
On Richard Herring’s Leicester Square Theatre Podcast, Les reflected on the pathetic headline and explained that he still has no intention of seeing Piers.
He said: “I won’t go on Life Stories – I’ll only go on Good Morning Britain on a Thursday when Ben Shephard’s there.”
But Piers claimed it doesn’t matter if he wanted to avoid GMB when he was on the show, adding: “Well, we have a new rule that anyone who says that isn’t allowed at all. So Les is now banned from GMB.” Piers was shortly after booted off GMB, and Les appeared on that very show to announce he was taking part in Strictly.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
