Kate Garraway stands by Piers Morgan as she praises ‘passionate’ host and says GMB will be ‘different’ from now on

KATE Garraway has stood by Piers Morgan as she praised the “passionate” host following his dramatic exit from Good Morning Britain. Stepping in to replace Piers’ co-host Susanna Reid today, Kate admitted the show will be “different” without Piers – but insisted their “friendship will go on” in a sweet tribute. Kicking off the show, […]

KATE Garraway has stood by Piers Morgan as she praised the “passionate” host following his dramatic exit from Good Morning Britain.

Stepping in to replace Piers’ co-host Susanna Reid today, Kate admitted the show will be “different” without Piers – but insisted their “friendship will go on” in a sweet tribute.

Follow our Piers Morgan live blog for the latest on his GMB exit…

ITV

Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway gave their viewers on Piers Morgan leaving[/caption]

Kicking off the show, Ben Shephard jokingly said today: “It’s been a quiet week, hasn’t it…”

After Ben said Piers had been “very supportive” to Kate and her family throughout her husband Derek Draper’s illness, she added: “That’s the thing about Piers, he’s very passionate.

“He does fly kites and have debates but it always comes from a place of authenticity. He always believes in what he says.

“He’s left, decided to quit and as he put it himself fall on his sword of free speech.

PA:Press Association

Piers quit Good Morning Britain after refusing to apologise on-air[/caption]

“I’ve known him a long time before he started work on this show. Our friendship will go on.

“It’s a different show, but it will go on.”

Kate stepped in to replace Susanna this morning who is missing from her usual slot after being in tears over Piers Morgan’s shock exit.

ITV

Susanna Reid took today off from presenting GMB after Piers Morgan’s exit[/caption]

Emotional Susanna, 50, yesterday paid tribute to her “outspoken, opinionated, and disruptive” former co-star Piers after he dramatically quit.

The Sun told how she was left in tears when the 55-year-old resigned after ITV bosses asked him to publicly apologise for saying he refused to believe Meghan Markles’s claims during her Oprah Winfrey interview that she contemplated suicide.

It was revealed Prince Harry’s wife complained to ITV’s CEO to raise concerns his words might affect those struggling with mental health.

But Piers refused – and quit instead following his heated clash with the show’s weatherman Alex Beresford.