Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan has slammed the government's boycott of the breakfast show - and said it represents a "shameful snub" of co-star Kate Garraway.
Kate's husband Derek Draper has been battling coronavirus since being admitted to hospital in late March, and was rushed into intensive care at the start of April.
He's now emerged from the medically induced coma into a "state of minimum consciousness" and has even managed to say a word, but presenter Kate has warned fans that the road to recovery is still a long one.
Meanwhile, Saturday will mark 200 days since a government minister has appeared for interview on the show, reports the Mirror.
Piers' co-host Susanna Reid told the Mirror : "If there is one member of the team to whom they owe a particular duty to explain policy and answer questions, it would be Kate.
"It's shocking that they haven't done that."
Piers added: "OK, don't come on when I am on.
"But to not come on when Kate is presenting. Really? You are going to snub someone whose husband is in a coma from Covid. It's shameful."
Piers hasn't hidden his disdain for the government's crisis management throughout the pandemic, especially during a fiery interview with Matt Hancock in April.
The Health Secretary vowed to "come on as soon as I possibly can" but then turned down a slot on today's show, blaming developments with the new Covid-19 vaccine.
He said: "Unfortunately, I have got something in the diary and I have a lot of work to do to get this vaccine rolled out."
The April interview saw broadcast regulator Ofcom hit with complaints over firebrand Piers' conduct.
He also sparked complaints during a brutal questioning of Care Minister Helen Whately.
But Ofcom cleared the veteran newsman on both counts.
Chiefs ruled that his interview technique fell within the remit of his journalistic duty.
"What Ofcom did about our awful haranguing of these poor little ministers... it was a very important moment for the TV regulator," Piers reckoned.
"They could easily have rolled over in the face of public opinion. I am sorry about those interviews - I am sorry I didn't go harder."
Care Minister Victoria Atkins was the last government official to have made an appearance on the show.
Piers now insists she "had no idea what I was talking about" when he grilled her over PPE.
*Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
