GMB Fans Fume Over Susanna Reid and Ed Balls Interview With Green Party Leader

Good Morning Britain viewers are threatening to complain to Ofcom after a fiery interview between presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls and new Green Party leader Zack Polanski.

The pair returned to the ITV breakfast show this week after their summer break and wasted no time diving into politics. On Wednesday morning’s programme, they sat down with Polanski, who has just been elected Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales. But while the politician faced tough questions, it was the presenters’ style that had many viewers up in arms.

Social media quickly filled with criticism of Reid and Balls. “Don’t like him but what a silly line of questioning to this Polanski guy on #gmb ask him some proper questions,” one viewer wrote, according to the Mirror. Another said: “Very hostile questioning of Zach Polanski #GMB.”

Others went further, accusing the presenters of being overly aggressive. “Susanna Reid and Ed Balls attack, attack, attack. What the hell is wrong with them,” fumed one. Another branded the programme “so, so, so embarrassing these days. Talk over and badger guests at every turn.”

One user raged: “Balls and Reid are embarrassing and despicable on #gmb They should be reported to @ofcom.”

Plenty of the anger was directed specifically at Reid. “Poor interview, I’m sure Susanna is trying too hard to turn into Piers Morgan, and spectacularly failing,” said one. Another viewer added: “Point of this interview? Total waste of the man’s time, just tried to make a fool of him, both presenters rude and looked down on him.”

During the exchange, the hosts pressed Polanski on his stance on immigration, reminding him that he has described Brexit as “catastrophic” and said he “despises” Nigel Farage’s political views. They questioned him on his opposition to placing “limits” on immigration and also confronted him about resurfaced remarks from 12 years ago involving hypnotherapy and women’s breasts.

Ed Balls asked directly: “At the time you believed that through hypnotherapy you could enlarge women’s breasts and charge people for it. What was your thinking then and how did your thinking change subsequently?”

Polanski pushed back, saying: “Anyone who believed that, that would be problematic and it is nothing I ever believed.” He explained that his comments were taken out of context and argued that the original piece had been misrepresentative, insisting it was meant to highlight issues around body image. He noted he apologised at the time.

Trying to move the focus back onto his political platform, Polanski said: “Since then I have a strong track record of standing up for social justice, standing up to lower people’s bills, standing up for marginalised people in this country and that’s a platform I’m very proud to stand on today.”

Despite his attempt to set the record straight, many watching at home felt the interview crossed a line. With calls for Ofcom complaints growing louder, it looks like Reid and Balls’ return to the GMB sofa has stirred more backlash than applause.