ITV boss breaks silence on 8,000 Good Morning Britain complaints after Ed Balls is slammed over interview
AN ITV boss has broken her silence after receiving 8,000 Good Morning Britain complaints over an interview with Ed Balls and his wife Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.
Fans fumed as the 57-year-old discussed the riots and protests that happened across the country following on from the attack in Southport last month.
Some believed that Ed and his co-star Kate Garraway showed a bias towards her because of Ed’s personal connection.
After the interview, Ofcom received 8,201 complaints – however an investigation into the segment will not be going forward.
Speaking about the interview, ITV chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall said: “It was a very, very tricky morning, there was a national emergency almost being called, and so we got very short notice that the Home Secretary was coming on the show.
“She was doing a whole round, but it was unexpected, and we believe that it was fair and impartial, and actually Ofcom just ruled, but amazingly no one has picked up on the fact that Ofcom are not pursuing these complaints, because they believe it’s fair, balanced and impartial.
“So would we do it again? No.
“Was it impartial, fair and balanced? And did they behave professionally?
“Yes. I mean, he asked her a few questions, but I think Kate (Garraway) was leading on that wasn’t she?
“And so I do think you’ve just got to say, if Ofcom have looked at it and they’re not pursuing this any further because they thought it was fair balanced and impartial, you know, that’s it.”
An Ofcom spokesperson added: “We carefully considered complaints from viewers who objected to Ed Balls interviewing his wife, Yvette Cooper, the Home Secretary.
“Taking into account that their relationship was made clear twice, that a range of views about Labour’s handling of the riots were included in the programme as a whole, and given the vast majority of the interview was conducted by co-presenter, Kate Garraway, we will not be pursuing further.
“We have, however, issued guidance warning ITV to take particular care over the compliance of such interviews in future to ensure due impartiality is preserved given the clear potential issues that could arise from such an editorial decision.
“Additionally, we will not be pursuing complaints about an interview with Zarah Sultana MP on this programme.
“In our view, Ms Sultana was given ample opportunity to express her views and respond to the questions put to her, while we consider the robust line of questioning would be consistent with regular viewers’ expectations of interviews with political figures on this programme.”
Many took to X after the interview aired.
One wrote: “Watching The Home Secretary’s Husband , Ed Balls, shout down every guest daring to call these riots what they are, just before his Wife comes on for the most soft Ball Interview, is absolute insanity. How the f**k can this even be considered impartial reporting”
“Does @GMB realise just how utterly ridiculous it looks by continuing to invite @edballs on as a presenter whilst he defends the actions of the Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, his wife!?” noted another.
“Now that Yvette Cooper is now a government minister (Home Secretary), @GMB should 100% stand Ed Balls (her husband) down,” said a third. “That’s a massive conflict of interest.”
A fourth noted: “I do feel like maybe the Home Secretary’s husband shouldn’t be involved in interviewing her on breakfast television, like I do think that’s fair to say.”
Ed and Yvette tied the knot in 1998.
They share three children Ellie, Maddy and Joel.