Susanna Reid has revealed that tension between herself and Good Morning Britain co-host Piers Morgan almost brought their working relationship to an early end.
When Susanna first joined Good Morning Britain in 2014, the show was met with a lukewarm response at best, with many questioning whether the show would last.
A year later, Piers joined as a permanent co-host, and soon began making headlines with his abrupt interview technique and controversial opinion.
Whether for better or worse, this helped put GMB on the map, but things didn’t get off to a smooth start between the two presenters.
“She was the queen bee and I was the alpha male,” Piers told Event magazine. “I felt I needed to shake her up a bit. But then I realised it went a bit too far.”
Susanna continued: “He is the most irritating man in the world, but I’m a professional. I can work with anyone, but it was a shock to the system, and I did find it difficult to sit there trying to be neutral in my opinions while Piers spouted forth about whatever he thought, and then I would be attacked for it.”
On how she was treated online for her co-host’s opinions, she stated: “People were saying horrific things about me, saying I wasn’t a feminist. Of course I am a feminist. And since when is it a feminist policy to blame the woman? I found the whole thing deeply upsetting.”
Eventually, she suggested going for a drink with Piers to “discuss things”, with Piers recalling: “Basically we got drunk in The Groucho Club and behaved appallingly. Then we went off to a load of gay bars in Soho and got even more drunk. And everything got sorted out.”
Susanna did eventually end up casting the neutrality that she’d held throughout her career, though, noting: “From that point I decided to put over my point of view. If I disagree with Piers, I will say so. If I disagree with a guest, I express my opinions on social media.
“I’m always conscious of how things can come back on me but I don’t hold back. That has been liberating.”
Last year, Susanna said she feels that being on Good Morning Britain has allowed he to be herself compared to her tenure at the BBC.