News-breh takes Piers' seat
'Shameful!': Viewers turn on 'jumped-up weatherman' Alex Beresford after he takes Piers Morgan's old seat to present Good Morning Britain as 450,000 desert show after row that led to star presenter leaving
- Beresford joined Kate Garraway in the presenter's chair for today's broadcast
- But many on social media were unhappy to see him there so soon after the row
- Morgan stormed off set after being challenged on his Meghan Markle comments
- Reports suggest the breakfast show has lost a further 100,000 viewers this week
Good Morning Britain fans took to Twitter to criticise Alex Beresford this morning as he stepped into the presenter's chair, just weeks after his on-air row with
Piers Morgan, which ended with the host quitting the show.
Beresford, 40, has been best known on the show for presenting the weather, but joined
Kate Garraway front and centre on today's broadcast - a move which caused a stir with many viewers on social media.
The departure of controversial host Morgan, 55, has seen many vote with their feet, as viewing figures for ITV's flagship breakfast programme have continued to slide since he stormed off at the start of the month.
Latest figures showed GMB drew in just 840,000 viewers on Thursday - a huge drop since its record-breaking morning of figures on Morgan's last day, when some 1.29 million tuned in, meaning nearly half a million people have deserted the show.
By contrast, BBC Breakfast attracted 1.53 million viewers on Thursday morning.
Thursday's figures for ITV are generally consistent with what has been seen in the weeks since Morgan's departure, although ratings did increase earlier this week to 1.1 million for Ben Shephard's appearance alongside Susanna Reid on Tuesday, before dropping by 100,000 the following day.
Viewing figures are not yet available for Friday morning's programme.
While sources told MailOnline Beresford standing in as presenter was not unusual, today's show drew a fierce reaction online, with many viewers unhappy to see him in the hotseat so soon after the row which went viral.
One wrote: 'Please no, not Alex. The weatherman in place of Piers is such an insult.'
A second said: 'Feel @GMB are being totally disrespectful to @piersmorgan -
seriously the weatherman trying to present and with a hula hoop.'
Another ranted: '
Just switched on to see Alex Beresford in Piers Morgan's seat? I wonder how long he has wanted that?? Since when does a weatherman have the right credentials to be a respected newsreader! I can only assume it's to appease the Meghan supporters. Shameful after his behaviour!'
GMB viewers turn on Alex Beresford as he takes Piers Morgan's old seat after Meghan row | Daily Mail Online