Life Stories viewers praise Kate Garraway as she takes over as host – but Piers Morgan admits he feels ‘weird’
LIFE Stories fans have heaped praise on Kate Garraway as she took over from former host Piers Morgan for her debut episode.
The Good Morning Britain star took over from her pal Piers, 56, as she sat down with her first guest, former footballer John Barnes, on Thursday night.
Kate, 54, is set to front three new 60-minute episodes of the popular show, which was long hosted by her former colleague Piers.
She was joined by Liverpool FC ace John, 58, for a tell-all chat about his time playing in the Premier League throughout the 1980s.
Fans immediately took to social media to heap praise on Kate as the interview got started, gushing that she was “smashing it”.
“Smashing it Kate Garraway on Life Stories,” one fan wrote to Twitter, as a second agreed: “Kate Garraway’s Life Stories certainly has a ring to it!”
“You’ve smashed it, your interview with John is fabulous and your skills exceptional,” another social media user chimed in.
A fourth wrote: “Big shoes to fill, but you’ve absolutely smashed it,” as a fifth said: “Bloody smashing Life Stories. Amazing lady. Bravo.”
Meanwhile, Piers admitted it was “weird” to be handing over the mantle of his talk show to his friend Kate as he too took to Twitter.
“As I told Kate today, it does feel a bit weird handing over the reins of a show I presented so long,” the presenter wrote beside a photograph of the pair together.
“At least it’s someone I love. Wish her all the very best.”
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Kate too admitted that it felt “weird” she would be hosting the show as she discussed her debut episode with Ben Shephard on Good Morning Britain.
Susanna Reid announced on the show on Thursday morning: “Tonight at nine o’clock it is Kate Garraway’s Life Stories.”
Kate was quick to respond: “It sounds so weird!”
Piers Morgan announced he is stepping down from the long-running celebrity interview series after presenting it since its 2009 debut.
He is now turning his attention to a new global TV show for talkTV, while Kate Garraway takes over from him in the Life Stories hot seat.
In his last Life Stories interview in December 2021, he handed over the baton to Kate in an emotional conversation about her career and the difficult recovery of her husband Derek from coronavirus.
Piers said: “I can’t think of anyone who I’d rather finish my run with. Kate was a wonderfully loyal colleague during my five years on Good Morning Britain and is one of my favourite people in the world.
“How she’s handled the devastating situation with Derek sums her up. She’ll be as brilliant at Life Stories as she is at everything else.”
Kate said: “I’d never try to be Piers. But he did say you’ll be gripping and wonderful in your own right.”
An ITV insider added: “Piers has created a legendary format. Everyone parted on the best of terms and wishes Kate the best of luck.”