Did Lorraine Kelly snub Esther McVey on GMB, how did they meet and what have they said about their ‘feud’?
LORRAINE Kelly said she "can't remember" much about working with MP Esther McVey when they appeared on GMTV together in the late '90s.
The 51-year-old politician and PM wannabe appeared on Good Morning Britain to talk about the Tory leadership race.
Did Lorraine Kelly snub Esther McVey on TV?
On June 10, 2019, Ms McVey, 51, appeared on Good Morning Britain to talk about the Tory leadership race when hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid spoke with Lorraine Kelly about her former co-star during a live crossover link.
Reid said: "Do you remember Esther McVey from her GMTV days?"
The Scottish presenter, 59, glossed over the question, shook her head and said curtly: "Yeah, yes I do. OK, coming up after half past eight..."
Following the awkward moment, Piers Morgan cheekily asked Lorraine: "So you got on with Esther then, Lorraine?"
Lorraine replied: "I don't remember, love, I don't remember at all.
"I really don't. It was an awful long time ago."
Breaking into laughter, Piers added: "Oh, if looks could kill she'd be six feet under."
Turning to Susanna, he added: "I'd love to hear the back story behind that."
How do they know each other?
McVey worked on GMTV with Kelly in the late 1990s after beginning her television career as a presenter on CBBC.
She later left TV and went into business before being elected to Parliament in 2010.
Ms McVey came under fire in May 2019 when she said it should be up to parents if they want to withdraw their primary school children from lessons on same-sex relationships.
The staunch Brexiteer faced a furious backlash for the comments that many saw as a bid to woo the extreme right wing of the Tory party in the race to become the next PM.
She has already vowed to leave the EU with or without a deal and wants to slash international aid spending.
What have they said about their 'feud'?
When asked by The Sun Online what she didn't like about Ms McVey, The Sun columnist said: "Nothing apart from her politics!
"I didn’t work with her at GMTV as I was doing my own show. I don’t remember her.
"I disagree with her on so many things - her latest utterance about teaching diversity in schools was disappointing to say the least.
"I can’t hide my feelings sometimes!"
Lorraine added: "Like everyone else I am sick of divisive politics and everyone being at each other’s throats.
"It’s a sickness amongst most of our politicians and it’s toxic. We deserve better."
McVey has since spoken out about her time working alongside Lorraine.
The politician said "We used to share a dressing room, she used to be on the programme afterwards and obviously she used to be partnered with Eamonn Holmes.
"Then I was promoted to be partnered with Eamonn Holmes.
"But she was great, it was a great show and I can't believe it was nearly 20 years ago I did that show, but never mind - it was really good at the time, really good fun."
On June 11, Lorraine remarked that the situation was "nuts" in response to 51-year-old Esther's comments.
Joking with hosts Piers and Susanna, Lorraine replied: "Well who wouldn't want to fight over Eamonn?"
She continued: "To be honest I am baffled by that, I have had my own show since 1992 and I don't think she joined until five years later."
Lorraine also hit back at Esther's claims that they shared a dressing room.
She continued: "As far as sharing dressing rooms go, it was just a little room that everyone shared.
"We went in and got ready, it wasn't a dressing room with couches - just a little room, very basic.
"I'll be genuinely honest, I don't remember much - it was such a long time ago, my show was totally separate so there was no interaction."
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