ITV GMB slapped with over 8,000 Ofcom complaints following 'farcical' Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper interview

ITV GMB has been hit with thousands of Ofcom complaints

ITV
Alex Davies

By Alex Davies


Published: 08/08/2024

- 11:33

Updated: 08/08/2024

- 13:59

Thousands of viewers have lodged official complaints against the ITV show

Good Morning Britain has found itself at the centre of an Ofcom storm after deciding to let presenter Ed Balls take part in an interview with his wife and current Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper.

On Monday, August 5, Cooper joined her husband and his co-host Kate Garraway on the ITV breakfast show to discuss the riots that gripped the nation over the weekend.

After violent clashes between mobs and police took place up and down the country, Cooper appeared on ITV to relay what she and Sir Keir Starmer's Labour government were planning to do about it.

However, the interview with Cooper was slammed by thousands as the Home Secretary was able to answer Balls and Garraway's questions unchallenged throughout.

Complaints rained in on social media at the time of the interview, with GMB being branded "biased", "a joke" and "farcical" - and now angered viewers have taken their anger to the broadcasting regulator Ofcom.

According to its weekly audience report, Ofcom has revealed that a staggering 8,201 complaints were lodged against Monday's Good Morning Britain.

Ed Balls and Kate Garraway

Ed Balls and Kate Garraway also faced Ofcom complaints for their treatment of Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana

ITV

A spokesperson confirmed to GB News that the complaints related to the presenters’ questioning of Coventry South MP Zarah Sultana and to presenter Balls interviewing his wife.

They added in a statement: "We are assessing the complaints against our broadcasting rules but are yet to decide whether or not to investigate."

Ofcom's statement comes just days after ITV stood by its decision to allow Balls to conduct the interview with his spouse at a time of heightened tensions in the UK.

A statement from ITV said [via the Guardian]: "Following a weekend of rioting and national unrest, GMB featured a range of interviews and discussion around this national emergency on today’s programme which included James Cleverly, shadow home secretary, and Yvette Cooper, Home Secretary.

Ed Balls

Ed Balls and Yvette Cooper are married

 PA

"We are satisfied that these interviews were balanced, fair and duly impartial."

Balls also appeared to rationalise the decision for him to take part in the interview with his wife when he told his co-host Garraway that he had "genuine questions".

He explained: "I have not really seen her at all in the last week.

"When these events happen, and if you're the Prime Minister or Home Secretary, it becomes 24 hours a day seven days a week, so it's tough.

Inevitably, social media was awash with outraged reactions, including one X user who fumed: "I said this last week, I'll say it again......@GMB is an absolute joke.

"They try to make out they are impartial broadcasters. However, they are just about to interview Yvette Cooper, whilst her husband is one of the presenters. They are not interested in balanced journalism #GMB."

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:

A second added to the discussion: "What a biased farce the UK MSM is #GMB @GMB."

While third fumed "Ed Balls one of the main presenters on #GMB interviewing his wife the Home Secretary is farcical." (sic)

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