This Morning viewers were left stunned as Phillip Schofield hit Matt Hancock with a savage question.
The former Health Secretary appeared on the ITV show to talk about a call for dyslexia screenings for all primary school children, as well as his own struggle with dyslexia.
Host Holly Willoughby began the interview by revealing she was also dyslexic and was diagnosed just before sitting her GCSEs.
But it was a question that her co-host Phillip Schofield asked Matt Hancock that left viewers completely gobsmacked.
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The Tory MP began his interview by addressing the bill to introduce dyslexia screenings in primary schools across the UK.
“It’s a shocking fact that estimates are that only about a fifth of children get identified if they’re dyslexic at school and I want to change that," he said.
"I want to have screening for all pupils at primary school and then the support and teaching to help them."
"Once they’re identified, then you can work out how to cope with it. In my case, I was re-taught how to read and write. I was taught to see words as pictures and learn each word as a picture and that’s what got me through.”
Matt Hancock then commended Holly for talking openly about her own dyslexia.
“It’s wonderful and it’s great you talk about it, but not everybody does. I went for 20 years before talking about it," he revealed.
“You’ve got to get out there and tell people because you - and people like you, Holly - can show that just because you’re dyslexic doesn’t mean you can’t get to the top table."
But Phil then decided to break up the pleasant interview with a hard-hitting question.
He interrogated Matt Hancock about his rule break earlier this year, which led him to resign as health secretary.
Keeping a straight face, the presenter asked: "Was it your dyslexia that meant you misread the social distancing rules?"
Whilst Holly tried to fight a smile, Matt paused and then awkwardly responded, "No, I can’t blame that on dyslexia or anything else.
"In fact, I’m not asking for any special favours because I’m dyslexic. In politics I’ve got some things to offer.
"In that case, that was a mistake and I’ve apologised for it. It was a failure of leadership because I came on shows like this and asked people to do things and then I didn’t follow those rules myself.”
Phil then asked Matt if he regretted no longer being in the role, to which he said, “I think that Sajid Javid, who’s doing the job, is doing an excellent job.”
When Phil asked if he was doing a 'better job' than Matt, the MP replied: "Who knows? Because there’s so many uncertainties and new things hitting us like the new omicron variant, but I think he’s doing a great job.
"But, you know, in those jobs, the pressures are big but that’s no excuse. It was a failure of leadership on my part and I’ve apologised for that.”
After the tense encounter, This Morning viewers took to Twitter to share their reactions.
Zoe said: "When Phil asked Matt Hancock 'was it your dyslexia that meant you mis-read the social distancing rules,' on #ThisMorning just now let me tell you I CHOKED."
Rachel said: "The best question Phil has asked for years #ThisMorning."
Heather added: "An absolute savage u-turn by Phil there and I am loving it."
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