PIERS Morgan might be celebrating his Ofcom win but he’s got no chance of getting his Good Morning Britain job back, according to TV sources.
This morning the media watchdog confirmed the star WAS within his rights to give his opinions during a heated GMB debate back in March.
But a TV insider has told the Mirror that there are no plans to offer Piers his job back.
Piers, 56, stormed off the show live on air after questioning Meghan‘s claims in her bombshell Oprah Winfrey interview that she suffered suicidal feelings – and then later quit rather than apologise.
Posting after the ruling today, Piers shared a picture of him and former co-host Susanna Reid on the ITV morning show.
He wrote: “I’m delighted OFCOM has endorsed my right to disbelieve the Duke & Duchess of Sussex’s incendiary claims to Oprah Winfrey, many of which have proven to be untrue.
“This is a resounding victory for free speech and a resounding defeat for Princess Pinocchios. Do I get my job back?”
Ofcom, which regulates TV shows, ruled today that Piers was allowed to air his own opinions on the show.
It wrote: “The restriction of such views would, in our view, be an unwarranted and chilling restriction on freedom of expression both of the broadcaster and the audience.”
Writing in the Mail after the verdict was revealed today, Piers took aim at Meghan and Harry, saying: “Chilling… wow.
“Ironically, I would imagine that word will prompt a very chilly reaction from the self-satisfied Sussexes as they slurp kale smoothies in their California mansion over breakfast this morning.
“Make no mistake, this is a watershed moment in the battle for free speech.”
He also said that Meghan wrote to his ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall demanding “his head on a plate,” as the Duchess used her “gender” to get through to McCall – which Piers calls “nauseating.”
In the aftermath of the broadcast, Piers’ rant about Meghan’s Oprah interview received the most complaints to the regulator in a decade – with more than 57,000 lodged against him.
Meghan and Harry also personally lodged a complaint against Piers to ITV and Ofcom against his outburst.
Ofcom then confirmed that they launched an investigation into the episode of Good Morning Britain under “harm and offence rules”.
The presenter made dismissive comments about Meghan’s claims to have had issues with her mental health during the show.
It comes as…
- Piers Morgan hails ‘watershed moment’ for free speech over Meghan Markle GMB row
- ‘I still don’t believe her,’ says Piers after Ofcom verdict
- Royal commentator Robert Jobson calls the watchdog ruling ‘a victory for common sense and free speech’
- Piers says he is ‘delighted’ at the ‘resounding victory for free speech’
- Good Morning Britain was not in breach the broadcasting code, Ofcom rules
- Piers Morgan claims ‘nauseating’ Meghan Markle ‘played the maternity card’ when she complained to Ofcom
- Royal expert Angela Levin hailed it a ‘marvellous result from Ofcom’
- The former GMB presenter jokes: ‘Do I get my job back?’
He even claimed he didn’t believe she was left feeling suicidal.
In the interview, Meghan told how life as a royal became unbearable and she “didn’t want to be alive anymore”.
The Duchess of Sussex, 40, said she begged for help but was told she would not be able to seek help as it “wouldn’t be good for the institution”.
But Piers had no sympathy for the then-pregnant Royal and ranted on the ITV breakfast show: “Who did you go to? What did they say to you?
“I don’t believe a word she says, Meghan Markle. I wouldn’t believe a weather report if she read it.
“The fact she has expressed an onslaught against our Royal Family is contemptible.”
The day after he made the comments – Piers announced he wouldn’t be returning to the show following his colleague Alex Beresford’s monologue criticising him for continually attacking Meghan.
ITV’s episode of Good Morning Britain caused outrage among the public – but the verdict today states that Piers’ opinions were “consistent with the right to freedom of expression.”
The watchdog said the comments were “potentially harmful and offensive” but ruled GMB was not in breach of the broadcasting code.
Ofcom said that it was “legitimate” and in the public interest for ITV to broadcast Piers’ scrutiny of Meghan Markle and her interview with Oprah.
Royal commentator Robert Jobson hailed the decision “a victory for common sense and free speech,” while Angela Levin said it was a “marvellous result from Ofcom.”
In a statement released this morning, Ofcom said: “This interview became a major international news story and we acknowledged it was both legitimate and in the public interest for ITV to broadcast debates featuring presenters such as Mr Morgan scrutinising those allegations including the veracity, timing and possible motivations of the claims.
“Consistent with the right to freedom of expression, broadcasters can portray strong views on the matter, including views casting doubt on the claims made.
“Ofcom is clear that, consistent with freedom of expression, Mr Morgan was entitled to say he disbelieved the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s allegations and to hold and express strong views that rigorously challenged their account.
“The Code allows for individuals to express strongly held and robustly argued views, including those that are potentially harmful or highly offensive, and for broadcasters to include these in their programming.
“The restriction of such views would, in our view, be an unwarranted and chilling restriction on freedom of expression both of the broadcaster and audience.”
An Ofcom spokesperson added: “This was a finely-balanced decision. Mr Morgan’s comments were potentially harmful and offensive to viewers, and we recognise the strong public reaction to them.
FREE SPEECH WIN
“But we also took full account of freedom of expression. Under our rules, broadcasters can include controversial opinions as part of legitimate debate in the public interest, and the strong challenge to Mr Morgan from other contributors provided important context for viewers.
“Nonetheless, we’ve reminded ITV to take greater care around content discussing mental health and suicide in future.
“ITV might consider the use of timely warnings or signposting of support services to ensure viewers are properly protected.”
After Piers voiced his concerns that Meghan and Harry were dishonest in their Oprah chat, a string of other claims they made were also proven to be false.
This includes when The Duke of Sussex told the world he was “cut off financially” in the infamous interview – before Prince Charles’ annual report showed his youngest son received a “substantial” sum from him after Megxit.
Meghan also claimed her and Harry were secretly married by the Archbishop of Canterbury in the garden at Nottingham Cottage three days before the official wedding in May 2018.
But their wedding certificate proved this was not true.
And the Duchess claimed the Royal Family refused Archie’s birthright to be a prince after “concerns and conversations” about “how dark” his skin would be when he was born.
However, according to royal protocol, Archie can only receive a title when Prince Charles takes the throne.
