Good Morning Britain viewers were left furious today as a former Apprentice star called elderly people "lazy".
Ryan-Mark Parsons, 21, appeared on the ITV show after Sir Vince Cable said that he wanted retired people to be sent back into the workforce.
He was joined by journalist Nina Myskow, 75, who said that older people had earned the right to retire and shouldn't be forced to continue.
Despite still working herself, Nina understood that she was "very, very lucky" to be able to do so and that she had the sort of job that she enjoyed doing and could continue to do.
"The problem is saying to people, 'You're fit and healthy, you're over 66, get back to work.' That's just not right," she said. "People have earned the right to put their feet up, do whatever they want."
But Ryan-Mark said: "There's lots of opportunities out there for the elderly to get up and switch off Coronation Street catch-up on ITV Hub and get out and work!"
Nina heaved a great sigh as she said: "The idea that people are lying on the sofa watching telly is outrageous and delivery HGV drivers, farm workers, picking... let's see where there are gaps in the economy!
"The basic principle is that people who have paid in all these years have earned the right. If they want to lie on the sofa watching Coronation Street - I wouldn't advise it because you need to keep yourself healthy and move around - having paid all this money you should be able to reap the benefits. I have been paying taxes for 55 years. You've been paying for what, two years?"
But Ryan-Mark responded: "Nina, you're making excuses for the elderly being lazy."
Outraged, Nina said: "Lazy? Define lazy."
He went on to ignore her question - but later used the Queen as an example - as she insisted that work was something that could be forced upon elderly people.
Viewers were not impressed with the Apprentice star, who had boasted that he had been paying tax for a whopping five years, and took to Twitter to comment.
One wrote: "Who’s this little brat on #gmb??"
While another fumed: "Why is the young boy telling old people to go back to work? It’s embarrassing they have paid there dues #GMB."
A third raged: "Who is this d***head of lad on #GMB and the conversation around getting over 65's back into work ?"
"Ah how cute, he has worked a whole 5 Years. #gmb," another joked.
*Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV
