Piers Morgan admits 'I hated it' in GMB confession as he returns to breakfast TV
Piers Morgan made his return to breakfast TV today as he appeared on BBC Breakfast to discuss his new book, Woke Is Dead, and he couldn't resist taking a swipe at his former rivals
Piers Morgan made his return to breakfast telly years after his dramatic Good Morning Britain departure as he sat down for a chat on BBC Breakfast.
Joking he was now alongside his "rivals", the presenter, 60, settled onto the red sofa to talk about his new book, Woke Is Dead.
But he kicked off the interview with a cheeky jab, drawing comparisons between BBC Breakfast's viewing figures and those of his former programme.
Piers fronted Good Morning Britain with Susanna Reid until he walked away in 2021 following his remarks about Meghan Markle.
At the beginning of his BBC Breakfast appearance today (Monday 20 October), Piers playfully took over host Ben Thompson's spot, briefly stepping into the presenter's chair, reports the Express.
"Good Morning Britain, it's been a while," he quipped, gesturing to Ben and declaring: "Don't worry Ben, I've got this, they wanted somebody a little bit younger, a little bit more handsome."
"Don't worry everyone, you're not having a fever dream," Sally responded, telling Piers: "Don't get too comfortable."
Piers then remarked: "It was funny, I thought this morning, breakfast TV again, I did it for five years, I spent five years - I have to be honest - trying to destroy you two and your colleagues. Finally beat you in the ratings, but only because I left!"
When questioned about how many times he actually topped them, with Sally pointing out it was merely "once", Piers confessed: "I think it was the last day when I walked off into the sunset.
"I planted my flag of success and walked off, and you've never beaten me again, because I wasn't there!"
Piers dramatically departed Good Morning Britain when he stormed off set during a live show, following a row over Meghan Markle.
Looking back on his stint fronting the ITV programme, Piers revealed there was one element he "hated" as Sally questioned him about how he "managed" the crack-of-dawn wake-up calls.
"I hated it, it's the honest truth," the Uncensored presenter confessed. "It's like having permanent jet-lag."
He added: "I did it for five years getting up, and managed to negotiate my way to a 4.30am/5am start by the end of waking up, but it is brutal. Hats off to you guys because it is a brutal thing to do morning television, people don't realise!
"And then you do two-and-a-half or three hours of live television, that takes all the adrenaline out and is really hard on the body, you get to midday and you're absolutely exhausted!"
When Sally enquired if that "drove you mad in the end," Piers went on: "Yes I think we all go mad in the end, I think I did go slightly mad, but I've always had a slightly mad streak, it just manifested itself through morning television.
"Susanna Reid who used to be here, we had a wonderful relationship, I miss that, I miss the team, that was great fun, with Susanna and Charlotte Hawkins and all the team.
"You know what it's like, it's like having a family, so that I miss, but the alarm calls, absolutely not!"
BBC Breakfast is broadcast from 6am on BBC One and iPlayer.