Tipping Point host Ben Shephard was accused of showing ‘little respect’ to a guest on This Morning series in May.
Weather guru Dave King popped up on the show on May 23 to share his thoughts on whether we’ll be having a sunny summer or not.
Dave communes with nature for his forecasts, by talking to plants and trees. However, there was anything but harmony in the studio as he and Ben seemed to rub each other the wrong way, rather than bounce off one another.
Ben Shephard clashes with This Morning guest
At one point during the item, Dave made a lengthy digression about his website, causing Ben to pointedly remark: “Well done, good plug.”
They also clashed again when Dave dismissed an enquiry about whether it would be warmer than Turkey by responding: “What part of Turkey? They’ve got mountains in Turkey. What a silly statement!”
“It was a question, it wasn’t a statement. It was a question, Dave, for you to answer,” Ben replied.
And while Cat Deeley guffawed at Ben’s comebacks, viewers claimed there was also more than a hint of a mocking tone on other occasions too, for instance when Dave was correcting claims about what an ‘Indian Summer’ is.
Towards the end of the segment, Dave joked about continuing the chat again “if you get me back again”.
To which Ben responded, acknowledging the tense interactions between them: “If I wanted to be told off, I’d go and see my mum.”
How viewers reacted
Fans of This Morning commenting on social media while the show was on air did not seem particularly impressed with how Ben co-anchored the item.
“#ThisMorning why show Dave the weatherman such little respect?” one viewer ponder online.
Another tweeted: “Why are they being so nasty to Dave? #ThisMorning.”
Why are they being so nasty to Dave?
Others, meanwhile, alleged Ben was at fault.
“Ooh Ben didn’t handle that well #ThisMorning,” one person tweeted.
“Ben showing his true colours there, [blank]ed off at the ‘weather expert’… #ThisMorning,” claimed another.
A third viewer posted: “Ben Shepherd is so rude, speaking over him and making snide comments #ThisMorning.”
And a fourth let rip: “Ben Shepherd is becoming increasingly unlikeable on #ThisMorning. Rude and condescending, particularly noticeable this morning towards that gentleman during the weather segment.”
Dave faced backlash, too
However, Dave was also criticised on social media.
“He’s getting annoyed as he knows they’re taking the [blank] out of him #ThisMorning,” one fan observed.
“Omg this guy is soooo rude #ThisMorning,” claimed someone else.
While someone else posted, seemingly without irony: “Bit [blank]ing aggressive, Dave! [Blank] off back to your divining rods #ThisMorning.”
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Tipping Point airs on weekdays from 4pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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