Piers Morgan blasted new Strictly judge Shirley Ballas on today’s Good Morning Britain over Charlotte Hawkins being booted off the dance show.
The outspoken presenter and his co-star Susanna Reid were left to console an emotional Charlotte on the “dark day” she returned to her day job after becoming the third person to be voted off this series.
Piers blasted the new judge saying she was to blame for Charlotte’s early exit because she got her name wrong when criticising her on Saturday, calling her Mollie.
Piers said: “After two weeks of attacking her, you can’t even give her the respect of remembering her name. No wonder people weren’t invested in our colleague because you ‘Mary’ Ballas couldn’t be bothered to get her name right.”
He added: “I am launching a campaign to bring down ‘Mary’ Ballas – her name will forever be that. It’s between me and ‘Mary’ a fight to the finish, the ultimate dance-off.”
He also suggested people should start calling her Shirley Bassey, who he said is “far more famous and talented” than the former dance champion who replaced Len Goodman on the Strictly judging panel this year.
Read more: Strictly viewers not happy with tonight’s dance-off couples
The former newspaper editor didn’t stop there, saying he was also confused and angry about the BBC show as a whole after Charlotte and EastEnders actor Davood Ghadami were in the dance-off when far worse dancers survived.
He said: “Let’s be honest, I don’t watch Strictly, but you are clearly a better dancer than at least three of the others and you still get kicked out.
“You were in the play-offs or whatever it is called with another good dancer, what is going on? I’ve watched Alexandra Burke she’s not an amateur, she dances like a professional.
“I don’t get how the ones at the top are not amateurs, and the ones at the bottom are not the worst, what’s all that about?”
A disappointed Charlotte said that was one of the reasons why people watch the show, as “you never know who will go out or when your time will be up.”
She said she was sad to be leaving so soon but added: “I went out there and did my best, I am proud of what I did.”
Her exit has raised questions over whether her fiery professional partner Brendan Cole will remain on the show in the future.
Read more: Strictly viewers convinced Brendan Cole just quit
Charlotte said she didn’t know whether he would be hanging up his dancing shoes for good but she would ask him this afternoon.
Getting a little teary about how she would miss dancing with him and being part of the show, she was given a very awkward hug by Piers who attempted to cheer her up by saying: “You were never going to win but you are twenty times more famous now.”
His sympathy didn’t last for too long though, as not long later he was teasing her for being “a loser”.