Good Morning Britain has been hit with 51 Ofcom complaints after Richard Madeley called an Insulate Britain protestor “darling”.
The ITV presenter used the word as he clashed with Insulate Britain campaigner Tracey Mallaghan, during a heated interview which aired last week (October 27).
Richard had been grilling Tracey Mallaghan about the motorway protests, and he accused her campaign of risking lives by blocking up roads like the M25.
After the host became increasingly frustrated with his guest who appeared to avoid his questions, he referred to her as “darling” but quickly took it back.
(Image: ITV)
The host was forced to stop the show and apologise for using the word during the broadcast, explaining that it was simply a “showbiz habit” of his.
Defending Insulate Britain protestors targeting the M25, Tracey insisted: “Kids face an unimaginable future Richard…”
As she spoke passionately about the cause, Richard tried to calm her down, addressing her as “darling”.
Richard replied: “You are not answering the question, are you?”
(Image: ITV)
The demonstrator fired back: “You are not asking the right questions. Is it because you are heartless or too scared? I am genuinely perplexed that journalists are not asking the right questions here.”
Richard said: “Well, my questions are my decision, to be honest with you…”
She snapped back: “Do you know what a 2 degree world looks like? Why can’t we talk about it? That is the question Richard.
“A 95 per cent chance of a 2 degree world for our children, do you know what looks like?”
Richard said: “What you are doing, darling…”
(Image: ITV)
He then stopped himself, saying: “Sorry to call you darling.
“You have already been told off about that sweetheart,” the activist snapped back.
Richard ploughed on, saying: “Yes it is a showbiz thing, we call everybody darling. It’s a habit of mine and I find it hard to stop.”
It is not the first time Richard has sparked a backlash by referring to one of his guests as “darling”.
Last month, he interrupted a parenting expert and called her “darling” during a debate about the Netflix show, Squid Game.
(Image: ITV)
After the expert, Jane Evans, seemed to discard Richard’s points about parenting methods, he said: “Hang on, hang on, darling, just answer this question.”
Fans proceeded to slam the reporter on Twitter for using the word.
One wrote: “Did Richard Madeley just call the guest DARLING? He is an embarrassment @GMB
A second said: “@GMB did Richard Madeley just call her ‘darling’?”
A third added: “Richard Madeley calling someone darling on GMB is another level of Alan Partridge”
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
