Piers Morgan will not be investigated by Ofcom after the media regulator received around 4,000 complaints in regards to his interviewing style on Good Morning Britain.
Former newspaper editor Morgan, 55, found his usual bombastic interviewing style heavily criticised during two interviews with Care Minister Helen Whately earlier this month.
In their first clash on Good Morning Britain on 15th April, Morgan’s manner received 1981 complaints after pressing the politician about deaths in care-homes due to coronavirus, why politicians had been tested when care workers had not, and how many health workers had died.
A further 1246 complaints followed when Whately, 43, returned to the programme the following week, with Morgan pressing her further on testing figures for Covid-19.
There were an added 600 complaints from an interview on 16th April with Matt Hancock, where Morgan claimed the Health Secretary was “grating” while Hancock accused the host of interrupting him. A further seven interviews saw a total of over 200 complaints.
However, a statement issued by media watchdog Ofcom today cleared Morgan, explaining “viewers would expect him to challenge senior politicians and hold them to account,” and that Morgan is “well known for his combative interviewing style.
“His guests were given adequate opportunity to put their points across and counter the presenter's criticisms," the statement continued.
"In Ofcom's view, in line with freedom of expression, it is clearly in the public interest that broadcasters are able to hold those making political decisions to account, particularly during a major national crisis, such as the coronavirus pandemic.”
Upon hearing his actions had provoked a number of complaints to Ofcom, Morgan told his 7.4 million Twitter followers to message the regulator themselves if they enjoyed or appreciated his more aggressive interviewing style.
“If you think I should continue grilling ministers in the way I’ve been doing, please tell Ofcom,” he said.
Ofcom then responded on their on Twitter page that they were “struggling to keep up” with the responses.
Morgan responded: “My apologies….I underestimated the scale of public support.”
In response to the Ofcom verdict today, the presenter thanked "everyone that supported [him]" on Twitter.
