Susanna Reid ‘to become the solo star of GMB after Piers Morgan’s departure’
Susanna Reid ‘to become the solo star of Good Morning Britain with rotating co-hosts after Piers Morgan’s exit – as bosses rush to ensure she doesn’t quit the show’
- The presenter, 50, will allegedly continue her role as host alongside rotating co-stars for the next six months
- Bosses are reportedly keen to prevent Susanna from quitting the show by offering her more input behind-the-scenes
- It’s also been reported Alex Beresford and Andi Peters could have expanded roles on the show
- Piers quit GMB on March 9 after a heated on-air clash with Alex about his comments that he ‘didn’t believe a word’ of Meghan Markle’s ‘truth’ on racism
Susanna Reid is reportedly being lined up as the solo star of Good Morning Britain following Piers Morgan‘s departure from the breakfast show.
The presenter, 50, will allegedly continue her role as host alongside rotating co-stars for the next six months, as bosses rush to ensure she doesn’t follow Piers’ footsteps by quitting.
It’s also been reported that bosses are keen to have Alex Beresford make more regular appearances as GMB‘s host, while competition star Andi Peters is also allegedly being lined up for a bigger role.
New role: Susanna Reid is reportedly being lined up as the solo star of Good Morning Britain following Piers Morgan’s departure from the breakfast show
According to The Sun, bosses will have Susanna take control of GMB in the coming weeks, with the star set to have input in the show behind-the-scenes.
The former BBC Breakfast star will continue to appear alongside regular hosts Ben Shephard and Alex, but bosses haven’t ruled out a long-term replacement for Piers in the future.
Currently Susanna also hosts alongside Kate Garraway, Charlotte Hawkins and occasionally Adil Ray, and typically takes a break from the show during half-terms and school holidays.
Changes: The presenter will allegedly continue her role as host alongside rotating co-stars as bosses rush to ensure she doesn’t follow Piers (pictured) by quitting
Staff have reportedly been reassured that things will carry on as they are until September, when bosses will re-assess the show’s lineup.
A source said: ‘[Susanna] is smart, feisty and opinionated. She may have been Piers’ foil for the past five years, but she’s so much more than this — and now it’s very much a case of The Susanna Show.
Alex hasn’t formally applied for Piers’ job, but has made it quietly known he’s more than happy, and able, to step up as a presenter if and when he’s needed.
‘Behind the scenes, Andi is very popular, and polls well with viewers despite, arguably, having the unenviable task of making competitions sound interesting.’
MailOnline has contacted representatives for ITV, Susanna Reid, Alex Beresford and Andi Peters for comment.
Expanded: It’s also been reported that bosses are keen to have weather presenter Alex Beresford make more regular appearances as the main host after he returned last week
Career boosts: It’s also thought that competition star Andi Peters could be given an expanded role on the show
Plans: Staff have reportedly been told the current presenting lineup, including Ben Shephard alongside Susanna (pictured) will continue until September
While Piers’ on-air clash with Alex saw GMB land its highest ever ratings on March 9, since then viewership has steadily declined.
The broadcaster announced later that day he had quit the show after saying he ‘didn’t believe a word’ of Meghan’s ‘truth’ on racism and the Royals during her bombshell Oprah interview.
The outspoken TV host quit the daytime series after he insisted he ‘didn’t believe a word’ of her account of suffering suicidal thoughts and experiencing racism at the hands of the Royal Family.
Piers then walked off set after a fierce debate with Alex in which the weather presenter accused Piers of unfairly ‘trashing’ Meghan, 39, and branded him ‘diabolical’.
At odds: Piers quit GMB on March 9 after a heated on-air clash with Alex about his comments that he ‘didn’t believe a word’ of Meghan’s ‘truth’ on racism
When Piers walked off screen, Alex continued: ‘I’m sorry but Piers just spouts off on a regular basis and we have to sit there and listen.’
Piers, who refused to apologise, later announced his resignation and tweeted his thanks to the GMB team, praising them for their ‘hard work and dedication’ that led to them beating their main breakfast TV rival.
And the presenter shared his own reflections on the events of that fateful week in a piece for the Mail On Sunday last weekend.
Piers called Alex ‘GMB’s occasional stand-in weatherman’ and ‘uptight’ in the telling account, adding that the presenter hasn’t messaged him since his exit unlike others on the show.
Defiant: The outspoken TV host quit the daytime series after he insisted he ‘didn’t believe a word’ of her account of suffering suicidal thoughts and experiencing racism
Reflecting on their now encounter, Piers said he wasn’t going to sit there and be ‘whacked’ by one of his own team.
He wrote: ‘I don’t mind outside guests trying to make a name for themselves by whacking me like this, but I wasn’t going to sit there and take it from one of my own team, especially someone who I’ve gone out of my way to help whenever he’s asked me for advice about his career.
‘Realising I might say something I’d regret, I decided to leave the studio to cool down.
‘As I walked off, Alex doubled down: “This is pathetic. Absolutely diabolical behaviour. I’m sorry but Piers spouts off on a regular basis and we all have to sit here and listen. From 6.30 to 7am yesterday, it was incredibly hard to watch.
“He has the ability to come in here and talk from a position that he doesn’t fully understand…”‘
Piers continued: ‘I didn’t hear any more of his diatribe, as I was out the door and heading for my dressing room.
‘I knew it wasn’t a good look, the great snowflake-basher running away from confrontation. And on reflection, I shouldn’t have done it. But in the heat of the moment, in my rather strained state of mind, this seemed the less worse option.’
Bombshell: Prince Harry and Meghan spoke with Oprah Winfrey earlier this month and made shocking claims about racism and their negative treatment from the Royal Family
