Piers Morgan WINS Ofcom complaint over Meghan Markle row that saw him quit GMB in victory for free speech

PIERS Morgan has WON his Ofcom complaint over the Meghan Markle row which saw him storm off and quit ITV's Good Morning Britain.

The former presenter won the battle amid his long-standing feud with the Sussexes - with the media watchdog confirming Piers WAS entitled to give his opinions during the heated debate.

Piers, 56, sensationally stormed off GMB in March after dismissing the legitimacy of Meghan Markle's claims to Oprah that she suffered suicidal feelings.

Meghan and Harry personally lodged a complaint against Piers to ITV and Ofcom against his outburst.

The Duchess made a direct complaint to the media watchdog - with Ofcom confirming at the time: “We can confirm receipt of a standards complaint made on behalf of the Duchess of Sussex.”

But in a huge win for freedom of speech, Ofcom today said that restricting Piers Morgan's strong views would be an "unwarranted and chilling restriction on freedom of expression."

And the regulator ruled that the broadcaster was indeed "entitled" to say he disbelieved Meghan and Harry's allegations made during their interview with Oprah in March.

After the verdict was ruled this morning, Piers Morgan took to Twitter and jokingly asked if he could get his job back.

He tweeted: "I’m delighted OFCOM has endorsed my right to disbelieve the Duke & Duchess of Sussex’s incendiary claims to Oprah Winfrey, many of which have proven to be untrue.

"This is a resounding victory for free speech and a resounding defeat for Princess Pinocchios. Do I get my job back?"

Royal commentator Robert Jobson hailed the decision "a victory for common sense and free speech," while Angela Levin said it was a "marvellous result from Ofcom."

In the aftermath of the broadcast, Piers' rant about Meghan's Oprah interview received the most complaints to the regulator in a decade - with more than 57,000 lodged against him.

Ofcom then confirmed that they launched an investigation into the episode of Good Morning Britain under "harm and offence rules."

The presenter made dismissive comments about Meghan's claims to have had issues with her mental health during the show.

He even claimed he didn't believe she was left feeling suicidal.

In the interview, Meghan told how life as a royal became unbearable and she "didn't want to be alive anymore".

The Duchess of Sussex, 40, said she begged for help but was told she would not be able to seek help as it "wouldn't be good for the institution".

But Piers had no sympathy for the then-pregnant Royal and ranted on the ITV breakfast show: "Who did you go to? What did they say to you?

"I don't believe a word she says, Meghan Markle. I wouldn't believe a weather report if she read it.

"The fact she has expressed an onslaught against our Royal Family is contemptible."

The day after he made the comments - Piers announced he wouldn't be returning to the show following his colleague Alex Beresford's monologue criticising him for continually attacking Meghan.

Alex said he found it "hard to watch" a half-hour segment of the show in which Piers savaged the interview.

Piers didn't like what his co-star had to say - refusing to listen before snapping "I'm not having this" and heading to the studio exit.

He was off-screen for almost 20 minutes, but later returned - slamming Alex for "launching a personal derogatory attack" on someone that he works with.

ITV's episode of Good Morning Britain caused outrage among the public - but the verdict today states that Piers' opinions were "consistent with the right to freedom of expression."

The watchdog said the comments were "potentially harmful and offensive" but ruled GMB was not in breach of the broadcasting code.

Ofcom said that it was "legitimate" and in the public interest for ITV to broadcast Piers' scrutiny of Meghan Markle and her interview with Oprah.

In a statement released this morning, Ofcom said: "This interview became a major international news story and we acknowledged it was both legitimate and in the public interest for ITV to broadcast debates featuring presenters such as Mr Morgan scrutinising those allegations including the veracity, timing and possible motivations of the claims.