Good Morning Britain's Ed Balls and Robert Peston Form Band Centrist Dad

Political Powerhouses Take on Punk Classics

Ed Balls, known for his appearances on Good Morning Britain, and Robert Peston, ITV's political editor, have joined forces to form a band called Centrist Dad. The unlikely duo recently made their live debut at a street party in North London, where they covered iconic punk songs and entertained a receptive audience.

Anarchy in the UK and More

During their performance, Peston, 63, took on the role of frontman, channeling a more mild-mannered John Lydon, while the 56-year-old Balls played the drums. Joining them were Radio 4 host John Wilson on bass and Chris Taylor on guitar. The quartet delighted the crowd with their raucous rendition of the Sex Pistols' "Anarchy in the UK" and other classics like The Undertones' "Teenage Kicks" and Blondie's "One Way or Another."

Even Political Leaders Join the Fun

Former Labour leader Ed Miliband and current leader Sir Keir Starmer were spotted among the audience, enthusiastically enjoying Centrist Dad's performance. The band's appearance at the annual York Rise Street party drew a diverse crowd, providing a lively atmosphere for all attendees.

Not Embarrassed Kids

On Good Morning Britain, Ed Balls shared that his children were not as mortified by their father's musical endeavor as he anticipated. He jokingly noted that "dads are supposed to be embarrassing." While his kids found the band name "Centrist Dad" terrible, they were pleasantly surprised that the performance wasn't as cringeworthy as they feared.

"Humour Us. We Had Fun."

In an Instagram post following the event, Ed expressed his enjoyment, stating, "Humour us. We had fun." Despite any reservations about the band's name, it seems that the overall consensus was that Centrist Dad put on an entertaining show.

The band's live debut was a testament to the unexpected yet exciting collaborations that can emerge, even within the realm of politics and journalism. Ed Balls and Robert Peston proved that they are not only capable of discussing current affairs but also of rocking out on stage.