PIERS Morgan will “stay at ITV” despite quitting his role as GMB presenter, claims an ITV insider.
It comes after the outspoken TV star’s shock exit from the morning show earlier this week.
Follow our Piers Morgan live blog for the latest on his GMB exit…
But according to I News, sources at ITV say Piers “will continue to make programmes for the channel”.
This includes his popular Life Stories series – which has been going since 2009.
It comes after Good Morning Britain lost 300,000 viewers following his unplanned exit from the show.
On Monday, the show managed to beat BBC Breakfast ratings for the first time in history, with 1.89million people tuning in to watch him and Susanna Reid.
But since he quit, the show’s ratings have dropped significantly – to 1.7million, and then 1.4million.
Meanwhile, on Thursday Piers ruled out a return to Good Morning Britain after a petition to reinstate him passed 200,000 signatures.
The broadcaster said the outpouring of support following his decision to quit the ITV show was a “pleasant surprise”.
Addressing the petition on Twitter, he wrote: “I won’t be going back, but thanks to everyone who has signed these petitions. Normally, people start petitions to have me fired or deported, so this is a pleasant surprise.”
His loyal fans are pushing a petition called “save Piers Morgan from being sacked from GMB” after his shock resignation.
“This is an absolute farce,” it reads.
“This man has stuck by our NHS when many others didn’t care including our government!
“He confronts the politicians on questions many of us want answering!
“He sponsored sir captain Tom £10,000 to start him off to support our NHS!
“Please sign this petition and share it on, give him the support that he has given us as NHS workers!”
The outspoken TV star shocked fans by dramatically leaving Good Morning Britain on Tuesday after senior execs told him to say sorry on air following his heated clash with the show’s weatherman Alex Beresford over the Duchess of Sussex’s Oprah interview.
But he was not willing to apologise and walked – bringing an immediate end to his six-year stint on the morning show.
It comes as…
- Meghan Markle made a complaint about Piers Morgan to ITV
- Piers branded Meghan as ‘contemptible’ as he doubled down on his comments
- The GMB host hinted at quitting hours before he stormed off the show by tweeting he was ‘dying of boredom’
- Piers said he ‘work is done’ after GMB beat BBC Breakfast’s rating for the first time in history
- Susanna Reid paid tribute to her co-host
It was revealed the Duchess of Sussex complained to ITV to raise concerns Piers’s words might affect those struggling with mental health.
The 39-year-old Duchess told Oprah Winfrey she felt like she “didn’t want to be alive anymore” in her bombshell interview on Sunday.
But on Monday’s Good Morning Britain, Morgan said he “didn’t believe a word” of it.
He then rowed with Alex and stormed off the set – before handing in his notice to bosses hours later.
Earlier this week a petition to “remove Piers Morgan from GMB” got 93,000 signatures – but the presenter laughed it off.
It later emerged he was ordered to apologise after bosses were contacted by the Duchess, but refused.
It’s understood Meghan’s complaint wasn’t made over Piers’ dismissal of racism allegations, or her claims that she wasn’t supported by the Royal Family.
Ofcom launched an investigation after receiving 41,000 complaints over the host’s comments.
