SUSANNA Reid paid tribute to her “outspoken, opinionated, and disruptive” former co-star Piers Morgan after he dramatically quit the show last night.
Ranvir Singh said that she was glad to be there to support Susanna throughout today’s episode as his replacement, adding: “It can’t be easy”.
Ranvir was the one to kick off the show at 6am, telling viewers that they will “discuss what’s on their mind” once her co-star joined half an hour later.
Susanna looked emotional when she first arrived in the studio, and admitted that though she often disagreed with Piers, he will be missed.
She took a moment to pause after introducing the show, bracing herself as she prepared to break her silence.
She told fans: “A number of viewers will of course know the news and many of you will not, and be surprised that Piers isn’t here this morning.
“Piers and I have disagreed on many things and that dynamic was one of the things that viewers loved about the programme.
“He is without a doubt an outspoken, challenging, opinionated, disruptive broadcaster – he has many critics and he has many fans.
“You will know that I disagreed with him about Meghan’s interview, he himself clarified his comments about her mental health on the show yesterday.
“There are many voices on GMB, and everyone has their say – but now Piers has decided to leave the programme.”
The presenter continued: “Some of you may cheer and others will boo, he has been my presenting partner Monday to Wednesday for more than five years.
“During Brexit, and the pandemic, and other issues, he has been a voice for many of you – and a voice that many of you rallied against.
“It is certainly going to be very different, but shows go on and so on we go.”
Susanna took a deep breath as Ranvir told her: “Well said, that can’t have been easy” – with her co-star shaking her head in agreement.
Ranvir went on: “It’s not easy is it? He’s a big character and a lot of people have got in touch to say that this was always on the cards.
“People are glad that he is gone but many viewers will be absolutely gutted this morning, we had our highest ratings on Monday and there’s a reason for that.
“People want to know what he thinks, and people like to hear whether they agree with him or not, and want to hear what he has to say.
“We’ve all been on that ride and we don’t call him Marmite for nothing, there’s a reason for that. We are here, the show is still GMB and we still do our jobs – we have lots to say and lots to debate.”
Ranvir continued to support her co-star as she commented on the “different atmosphere” in the studio today after they’d lost their colleague.
She then clarified: “I was here anyway, so don’t read anything into this.
“I was here anyway this morning, I just shifted seats onto this brand new desk.”
Turning to Susanna she added: “I’m glad to be here to go through the programme with you today, it’s a strange morning for all of us here.
“But, the decision has been made, and I think when there are thousands of complaints about something they have to be taken seriously.”
Piers received over 41,000 complaints to TV regulator Ofcom after Monday morning’s show, where he said that he didn’t believe Meghan’s claims she’d suffered with her mental health and been suicidal.
Yesterday, he stormed off set during a huge row with his GMB co-star Alex Beresford after he criticised his reaction to Meghan’s comments.
He dramatically resigned after senior execs said they wanted him to say sorry on air following his heated clash with the show’s weather presenter.
But Piers said he was not willing to apologise, and walked – bringing an immediate end to his six-year stint on the morning show.
In his first tweet since quitting, he wrote: “Thinking of my late, great manager John Ferriter tonight. He’d have told me to do exactly the same thing. @GMB #TrustYourGut.”
