Susanna Reid has admitted 'Good Morning Britain' will "be very different" without Piers Morgan.
Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid
The 50-year-old presenter has opened up on Wednesday's (10.03.21) episode after her co-star quit the ITV breakfast show after Ofcom received more than 41,000 complaints about his comments toward Meghan, Duchess of Sussex.
Susanna said: "A number of viewers will of course know the news and many of you will not, and be surprised that Piers isn't here this morning.
"Piers and I have disagreed on many things and that dynamic was one of the things that viewers loved about the programme.
"He is without a doubt an outspoken, challenging, opinionated, disruptive broadcaster - he has many critics and he has many fans.
"You will know that I disagreed with him about Meghan's interview, he himself clarified his comments about her mental health on the show yesterday.
"There are many voices on GMB, and everyone has their say - but now Piers has decided to leave the programme."
She added that some people will "cheer and others will boo" following his exit, but she pointed to their long-standing working relationship.
She added: "Some of you may cheer and others will boo, he has been my presenting partner Monday to Wednesday for more than five years.
"During Brexit, and the pandemic, and other issues, he has been a voice for many of you - and a voice that many of you rallied against.
"It is certainly going to be very different, but shows go on and so on we go."
Ranvir Singh stepped in as Piers' replacement for today, and admitted the situation wasn't "easy" for his former colleagues.
She said: "It's not easy is it? He's a big character and a lot of people have got in touch to say that this was always on the cards.
"People are glad that he is gone but many viewers will be absolutely gutted this morning, we had our highest ratings on Monday and there's a reason for that.
"People want to know what he thinks, and people like to hear whether they agree with him or not, and want to hear what he has to say."
She urged viewers not to "read anything into" her replacing him this morning as she was already set to be in the studio and "just shifted seats".
She told SUsanna: "I'm glad to be here to go through the programme with you today, it's a strange morning for all of us here.
"But, the decision has been made, and I think when there are thousands of complaints about something they have to be taken seriously."
Piers had previously said he “didn’t believe a word” of Meghan’s interview, in which she said she “didn’t want to be alive” after receiving heavy public scrutiny, and also alleged an unnamed member of the royal family had raised concerns about her son Archie’s skin colour because Meghan is biracial.
Following his comments on Monday’s episode, his co-star Alex Beresford accused him of "trashing" Meghan – who is married to Prince Harry – during Tuesday’s episode of the show, and their debate became so heated that Piers stormed off of the set.
In a statement, ITV confirmed: "Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave ‘Good Morning Britain’. ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add."
Tagged in Piers Morgan Susanna Reid