Richard Madeley received a punch from Britain’s oldest stuntman as he had a “Jack Reacher” moment on Good Morning Britain.
The broadcaster looked nervous as he geared himself up to receive a right hook to the face in a skit which saw him play a “villain”.
Veteran stuntman Rocky Taylor, 74, joined the show to discuss his new book about his life working as a stunt double for Roger Moore, Ray Winstone and Pierce Brosnan among others.
On wrapping up the chat, Kate Garraway said: “We’ve got no CGI, and we’ve got no wires. We want you to do a live stunt with our Richard.”
Squaring himself up to Taylor, Madeley set the scene: “We’re going to cast you as Tom Cruise’s double. This is a Jack Reacher film. I’m one of the villains and you’re Jack Reacher. You’re going to give me a right hook to the jaw.”
Taylor looked to take a swing as Madeley shouted: “Wait, wait in three!”
After a countdown from a “safe” distance, Taylor ‘punched’ Madeley who clutched his face before demanding another blow.
Garraway looked concerned, asking her co-host: “Are you ok?”
Aware of his critics, Madeley joked: “They’re all saying at home ‘why didn’t he connect? It was a golden opportunity’.”
Madeley left viewers fuming on Tuesday after he appeared to dismiss Sir David Attenborough, calling him “just a broadcaster” in a heated debate with a member of British climate protest group Extinction Rebellion.
Good Morning Britain is on ITV, weekdays at 6am
