- Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.co.uk
Lorraine Kelly was left squirming in her seat as Piers Morgan and Dr Amir furiously clashed over trans rights and women’s spaces during Thursday’s show.
As the programme descended into chaos, the host, 65, was drowned out, with the duo repeatedly speaking over her.
Bringing his signature chaos to the show, viewers claimed Lorraine looked ‘very uncomfortable’ as she ‘lost control’ of her own breakfast programme.
Piers featured as a guest on the ITV show to speak about Donald Trump, the release of the Jeffrey Epstein files and the new legal guidance on single-sex spaces.
A report today ruled that people in toilets can be asked if they are male or female.
Lorraine said of the news: ‘Oh that will open a can of worms.’
Piers retorted: ‘Not really, but what is a cisgender woman?’
Lorraine replied to say the definition was that of a biological woman, prompting Piers to quiz: ‘Well, why can’t we just call them that? That would solve a lot of the problem, stop giving them stupid names like cisgendered.’
Dr Amir Khan, who was also a guest, then interjected: ‘When it comes to these kind of issues, the reason this is problematic is because a lot of these people won’t be trained to ask those kinds of questions…’
Piers then jumped in, quipping: ‘I will stand outside the loos and ask the questions!’
Next he asked Amir which toilets he uses, and he made clear he opts for the men’s.
Piers then asked why, with Amir saying that he ‘identifies as male.’
Piers corrected him: ‘No, you don’t identify as male. You are a male. You’re a man so you use the men’s and so do I.’
Lorraine tried to chip in, saying that she uses the ladies as the men’s is ‘disgusting,’ to which Piers roared: ‘And how would you feel if we both marched in there?’
Lorraine giggled as she replied: ‘Well if I was on the loo, I wouldn’t be very happy!’
Piers continued: ‘Males stay out of the women’s area and women stay out of the men’s area. It used to be so simple.’
However Dr Khan was having none of it, hitting out: ‘No that isn’t the bottom line!’
‘The reason that this is an issue is because this will actually endanger women as well.’
When Piers stressed that women are already endangered, Dr Khan asked: ‘By trans people?’
Piers emphasised that while he ‘doesn’t have a problem’ with trans people and believed that they deserve equal rights, this should never be ‘at the expense of women’s rights.’
He fumed: ‘For too long, we have pandered to this nonsense. Women are women, men are men.
‘My message to trans women is fine, if you want to identify as trans then no problem, but do not go into women’s spaces. You are a biological male.’
As the conversation spiraled, Lorraine begged the duo to wrap it up.
Sharing their thought on X, viewers wrote: ‘Piers Morgan causing havoc on Lorraine. The producers are probably having a meltdown.’
They added: ‘Piers Morgan running riot on Lorraine’; ‘Save Dr Amir!! This is a live assassination’; ‘Piers Morgan causing havoc at ITV this morning’; ‘Lorraine looks very uncomfortable!’
Others rushed to support Piers, with one writing: ‘Go Piers Morgan he speaks what everyone else is to scared to talk about.’
Another echoed: ‘Who would have thought I’d be so happy to hear what #piersmorgan has to say on #lorraine. #DrRanj stop being so WOKE.’
Elsewhere, Piers joked about ITV’s ‘savage’ cuts as he learnt that Kate Garraway and Richard Madeley had ended their programme.
As Lorraine quipped that Piers could take over from her, he mimicked: ‘Hi Kate, Hi Richard – do you miss me?’
Lorraine added: ‘They’re away, they’ve gone!’
‘Where’ve they gone?’ he exclaimed, ‘There used to be a little two-way. That’s all gone as well? Cutbacks are savage aren’t they.’
When it was announced in May that ITV was cutting 220 jobs, Lorraine called it ‘heartbreaking’.
Lorraine’s broadcast has been reduced from one hour to 30 minutes each episode and will only broadcast 30 weeks a year; the same is said for Loose Women, instead of their full year schedule.
But like the other daytime shows, This Morning’s production team will merge with those on Lorraine and Loose Women to share resources.
Top TV talent including Lorraine were believed to be ‘furious’ and ‘insulted’ over the shakeup while the Loose Women are already fearing inevitable job losses.
Presenters such as Kaye Adams spoke out about the ongoing situation and said she was having ‘sleepless nights’ about the changes and Kate Garraway said ‘it’s not fun’ to see such sweeping change.
Former Loose Women presenter, Sherrie Hewson, called the decision ‘cruel’ to target the panel’s daily talk show as she said it was a ‘lifeline’ for many lonely people.
Changes are framed by ITV as a way to save money but reinvest in other genres, while keeping their most important shows.
ITV Studios, which makes shows like I’m A Celeb, generated £1,350million in revenue over the nine months to September this year and so the reality show Down Under is a big money maker for the company.
Lorraine airs weekdays on ITV1 from 9am and is available to stream on ITVX.
