Susanna Reid was left trying to justify her Good Morning Britain salary in an awkward debate on the show.
The 50-year-old was back hosting the ITV news programme on Thursday alongside Ben Shephard.
The show prompted a discussion about MPs' pay after Conservative MP Sir Peter Bottomley argued that MPs should be paid the same amount as GPs.
The Commons Father of the House told the New Statesman that the annual salary should be higher and spoke about how "grim" living on an MP’s £81,932 salary was.
READ MORE: GMB viewers applaud Gary Neville as he rips into government and fellow guest over Universal Credit
Speaking about Sir Peter's claims, Susanna said on GMB: "On the day Universal Credit is cut for thousands of people across the country, Sir Peter Bottomley says MPs who are paid £82,000 a year should be the same as GPs whose average salary is £100,700."
Susanna and Ben were joined in the studio but former Conservative MP Michael Portillo who interrupted Susanna, commenting: "Or TV presenters? What about that?
"What if they were paid the same as TV presenters? Would that be a good one?"
Susanna then argued: "Well, the difference is, of course, that TV presenters aren't paid out of the public purse on this channel.
"So, I'm not sure the comparison applies."
Michael responded: "But are you saying that because people work in the public sector there can be no market consideration?"
Susanna said: "I'm not saying anything..." while giving a little laugh.
"If Sir Peter Bottomley is struggling on £82,000 a year then I think he has the perfect right to say that and express that view."
Susanna's former co-host Piers Morgan previously tried to push her into admitting she's a millionaire.
In a conversation of Christmas spending on the show in 2019, Piers told her: "You're a millionaire, but you hate to admit it. If you die tomorrow of starvation from your vegan diet and we sold everything you have, you'd be a millionaire."
Susanna shook her head and said: "You wouldn't make a million out of me."
Piers then asked: "What are you doing with it all?"
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