Piers Morgan has revealed a job application to replace him as Good Morning Britain co-host was submitted “precisely 17 minutes” after he sensationally quit.
The broadcaster, 55, said he found the speedy response to his departure “highly amusing” after he was informed by Kevin Lygo, ITV’s director of television.
Surprisingly, Morgan admitted he was “only surprised it took that long” after he left the breakfast show on March 9.
Writing in a column in the Mail on Sunday, Piers said: “Television is full of happy smiley fakes who pretend to be your biggest fan to your face but who’d dance the tango on your grave if they thought it would get them more airtime.”
Morgan quit as co-host of GMB after accusing Meghan Markle of lying during her and Prince Harry’s controversial interview with chat show host Oprah Winfrey.
During the two-hour TV special, the former actress, 39, accused an unnamed member of the Royal Family of being “concerned” about how dark – then unborn – son Archie’s skin would be.
Morgan also revealed that during the call with Lygo, he was told he would be forced out of GMB if he didn’t apologise.
“Oh s***. This must be more serious than I thought,” he wrote. “Mid-afternoon, Kevin, who I’d spoken to several times since yesterday, rang to say we were now ‘on the cliff edge’.
“I appreciated his directness – we’ve always had a very open, honest and humorous relationship – and said I’d call him back when I’d thought it over.”
(Image: ITV)
Morgan added that he discussed whether he should apologise with close friends before making his decision – and even called on late manager John Ferriter for advice.
“‘Talk to me, John,’ I muttered, in a moment reminiscent of that scene in Top Gun where Maverick begs his dead buddy Goose to guide him on what to do after he bugs out of aerial combat with the Russians,” he said.
“All I heard back was John’s regular refrain: ‘Trust your gut!’
(Image: PA)
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“Suddenly, I reached a moment of total gut clarity: f*** it, I wasn’t going to apologise for disbelieving Meghan Markle, because the truth is that I don’t believe Meghan Markle.
“And in a free, democratic society, I should be allowed not to believe someone, and to say that I don’t believe them.”
ITV announced the decision after Ofcom said it was investigating his comments, which attracted 41,000 complaints.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
