Piers Morgan says 201-day government 'boycott' of GMB is over as Matt Hancock agrees to appear

Health Secretary Matt Hancock is to appear on Good Morning Britain, ending six months of silence on the show.

Outspoken host Piers Morgan regularly blasts the government for its handling of the Covid-19 crisis, especially during a fiery mid-April interview with Health Secretary Matt Hancock.

Care Minister Victoria Atkins was the last government official who made an appearance on the show, before ministers apparently began to refuse appearances, despite regular requests from the programme.

This week, Piers and co-host Susanna Reid accused the government of "snubbing" co-star Kate Garraway, whose husband was made seriously ill by the virus.

Now, it appears the "boycott" has ended.

On Sunday, Piers tweeted: "BREAKING: Just had a call from Downing Street. The 201-day Government boycott of @GMB is over & Health Secretary @MattHancock will be appearing on the show tomorrow morning..."

It's likely the Health Secretary, who had already pledged to "come on as soon as I can" when ambushed by a GMB reporter on live television on Tuesday, will face a grilling on why it's been so long since the government put forward a spokesperson for the show.

He's also bound to face questions on the Prime Minister's current handling of the coronavirus crisis, as well as this week's departure of aide Dominic Cummings and director of communications Lee Cain.

Some of Piers' followers speculated whether the departures of Cummings and Cain were the reason for the apparent change in government policy towards the programme.

But one follower said: "That’s exactly what they want you to think, purging Cummings is their answer to every mistake they’ve made in the last year and beyond, don’t give them the luxury of a reset."

Others criticised the government for the delay, with one saying: "About time! Absolutely disgraceful behaviour from this government."

But some suggested Piers' style may have had something to do with the 'boycott', with one saying: "Try and be respectful and grown up, that way they may appear more, everyone is struggling at the moment and respect goes a long way."

Mr Hancock will appear on Good Morning Britain on Monday. The programme airs on ITV from 6am.