Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Bristol Post
Bristol Post
Entertainment
James Rodger

Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield cut short This Morning interview with anti-LGBT school protester

This Morning hosts Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were forced to intervene during a tense chat with an anti-LGBT education protester.

A debate on the ITV daytime show got heated between Shakeel Afsar and Melissa Thompson.

Mr Afsar slammed Anderton Park Primary School head teacher Sarah Hewitt-Clarkson and criticised the school over its LGBT discussions.

The 32-year-old property developer said such discussions offend most of the school's mainly Muslim parents.

He appeared on TV with Melissa Thompson, who blasted him for "poisoning" children, reports Birmingham Live.

The former food consultant said: "You contradict yourself. You say you are not intolerant but I'm afraid you are.

"You are poisoning children."

Shakeel Afsar (ITV)

Holly and Phil then stepped in to end proceedings there, as the ITV show cut to a break.

It came on the day viewers slammed Mr Afsar's comments on social media after the controversial appearance.

"How cold and rude is Shakeel Afsar? He did not even look once at the woman debating with him, that behaviour shows exactly who he is," one wrote.

Phil slammed Shakeel for "discriminating" and "encouraging children to be less tolerant".

He asked: "You did say it 'plants a seed in them'. What do you mean?"

Shakeel hit back that children should be "taught respect for humanity".

He said that the LGBT community has been intolerant towards the Muslim community, adding: "Please can I finish my point, I haven't been able to speak.

The debate ended with Melissa accusing Shakeel of "poisoning children" with his comments.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.