“ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add.”
The show opened on Wednesday morning,UK time,with Morgan’s co-presenter of five years Susanna Reid addressing his absence straight up:she said they had disagreed on many things but that had created a dynamic that was “loved about the program”.
She said Morgan had decided to leave the program adding “Some of you may cheer,others will boo”.
“It is certainly going to be very different,but shows go on and on we go,” Reid said.
Morgan,55,is one of Britain’s most prominent media figures after a long career editing top-selling newspapers theDaily Mirror and the now defunctNews of the World.He later switched to US television and was CNN’s replacement for the retiring Larry King.
He joinedGood Morning Britain in 2015. The show’s rating have surged over the past year amid Morgan’s forensic interrogation of the government’s poor handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
In Tuesday’s episode,Beresford said he had experienced racism in Britain and had sympathy for Meghan’s experience.
“I understand that you don’t like Meghan Markle,” Beresford said.
“You’ve made it so clear a number of times on this program,and I understand that you had a personal relationship with Meghan Markle,and she cut you off. Has she said anything about you after she cut you off? She’s entitled to cut you off if she wants to. And yet you continue to trash her.”
Morgan then stood up and walked off theset.
As Morgan left,Beresford said:“That’s pathetic. This is absolutely diabolical behaviour. I’m sorry,but Piers spouts off on a regular basis and we all have to sit there and listen – 6.30am to 7am yesterday was incredibly hard to watch.”
On Tuesday,Morgan said it was not for him to question whether Meghan felt suicidal.
“My real concern was a disbelief,frankly ... that she went to a senior member of the royal household,told them she was suicidal and was told she could not have any help because it would be a bad look for the family.
“If that is true,a) that person,if they are still there,should be fired and b) the royal family has serious questions to answer about how they handled it.”
There had been some speculation before Morgan’s departure fromGood Morning Britain on Tuesday that he was already considering other options.
His name has been linked to GB News,a television channel being launched later this year by former Sky News Australia chief Angelos Frangopoulos. He has also been connected to a new network to be launched by Rupert Murdoch.
ITV chief executive officer Carolyn McCall was peppered with questions about Morgan during an event on Tuesday. She said director of television Kevin Lygo had spoken to the broadcaster over recent days.
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McCall said she believed Meghan’s suicide revelations:“I completely believe what she said. The most important thing with mental health that ITV does and is totally committed to is that we support,we get people to speak up,we listen,we say everyone has to listen and everyone has to believe,because that’s how you get people to speak up.
“We are very committed to that.”
Julia Hartley-Brewer,a conservative radio host,linked Morgan’s departure to his style.
“When every single person on your TV screens is identikit,dull as dishwater,toeing the line,spouting the same woke nonsense to keep the Twitter cancel culture ghouls happy all day every day,you’ll all be bored out of your bloody minds,” she said.
“Be careful what you wish for.”