ALEX Beresford finally returned to Good Morning Britain today – 10 days after his fiery on-air clash with Piers Morgan.
The 40-year-old star was back presenting the weather for the ITV breakfast programme at 6am, with Sean Fletcher presenting the main show until 6.30am when Susanna Reid and Charlotte Hawkins took over.
Alex went about his job as usual, and did not allude to the dramatic run-in with his former co-star, which saw 55-year-old Piers quit just hours later.
He was praised around the globe for confronting the TV presenter for comments he’d made about Meghan Markle the previous day, becoming an overnight sensation in the US.
Piers sensationally stormed off set as Alex criticised his coverage of Meghan and Prince Harry’s bombshell Oprah interview.
Addressing his co-star’s personal grudge with Meghan, Alex calmly: “I understand that you don’t like Meghan Markle, you’ve made it so clear a number of times on this programme.
“I understand you’ve got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle, or had one and she cut you off… She’s entitled to cut you off if she wants to.
“Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don’t think she has, but yet you continue to trash her.”
And the remark hit a nerve, with Piers dramatically standing up and saying: “Okay, I’m done with this”, as he made his way to the studio exit.
He was off-screen for almost 20 minutes, and tensions quickly grew again when the debate continued later on in the programme – with Alex repeatedly insisting that he wasn’t accusing Piers of being racist.
That evening, ITV confirmed in a statement that Piers would not be returning to Good Morning Britain – with his comments on Monday’s show also receiving criticism from lead mental health charity Mind for dismissing the Duchess’ mental health battle.
Alex released an emotional statement two days later, saying that he never wanted Piers to quit the programme, he just wanted him to “listen”.
A clip from the clash went viral online, and caused a storm stateside as well as here in the UK.
Culture columnist and critic Mary McNamara wrote in The Los Angeles Times: “He’s the guy who came out of nowhere to say what many were thinking, the Good Morning Britain weather presenter who decided he could not remain silent while a woman was repeatedly getting torn down.
“Even if speaking out meant facing a senior colleague’s on-air wrath.”
She added: “But for Beresford to highlight the rift on-camera was remarkably brave… As a person of color, it is understandable that he, like [Trisha] Goddard, would have a hard time remaining silent when Morgan accused the duke and duchess of crying ‘racism’ where none existed.”
Yanks have also been praising Alex online, gushing about him on social media now that he is on their radar.
But it’s not just Americans who have developed a new love for Alex following the dramatic scenes, with UK viewers stunned to learn “what’s under his suit” after finding his hunky fitness snaps on Instagram.
Alex had not been back on Good Morning Britain since the row on Tuesday [9 March], but this wasn’t too unusual as he has never been a daily fixture on the show.
