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Watch as Ed Balls ‘disappears’ from GMB and leaves Susanna Reid to grill his wife alone after Ofcom complaints
It came after more than 16,000 angry viewers complained to Ofcom
ED BALLS temporarily stepped back from Good Morning Britain hosting duties as he left Susanna Reid to interview his wife solo.
The former Labour politician couldn't be seen on-screen as his co-host nattered to his spouse, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, 55, on a live video link to Berkshire.
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Ex Shadow Chancellor Ed, 57 - who previously left the GMB studio to avoid interrogations of his MP wife on the show - stayed silent as Susanna, 53, discussed a variety of issues.
She quizzed the politician on migration numbers as well as re-building trust in politics after half of people surveyed said they were disappointed in the new Labour government, elected in July.
The ITV screen split between Susanna in the studio, donning a bright red suit, and Yvette wrapped in a coat for the outside broadcast.
Ed's absence was understandable - after the Good Morning Britain anchor was hit with thousands of Ofcom complaints for appearing on the same show as his wife.
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At the time, fans were left complaining "how is this allowed?" - and following Thursday's episode, the same comments surfaced.
One viewer took to X to complain: "So Mr and Mrs Balls is on."
Another put: "Ed Balls has no place on #gmb with his wife being who she is."
A third mused: "Ah I see Ed Balls is hosting his wife Yvette Cooper on his morning TV show again. Ridiculous."
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One then ranted: "Do NOT have #yvetteCooper on while #EdBalls is on. Can't they see how ludicrous this is?"
A GMB viewer then ranted: "What? Ed Balls wife on, there is no way Ed balls will ask his wife hard hitting questions, he will be in a doghouse if he does that, there is no way he will interrupt his wife.
Good Morning Britain does major U-turn after Ofcom slap-down as presenter walks off set
"This is a big conflict of interest, this shouldn't be happening."
One then giggled: "Love how they’ve cut Ed Balls totally off our screens. Awkward!!"
Another mused: "If Ed Balls can't interview the Home Secretary because of perceived bias, what's the difference with him interviewing a Labour Minister?"
OFCOM ROW
Earlier this summer, GMB received more than 16,000 complaints relating to Ed's interviews with Labour MPs Zarah Sultana and his wife, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper over the far-right riots.
At the time, some called for Ed to be sacked following a heated debate with Zarah, 30, over the interpretation of her comments about the UK rioting.
During the same episode, Ed cross-examined his wife in what viewers branded a "surreal" moment and they accused him of going "low ball" on Yvette.
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Others believed Ed and his co-host Kate Garraway showed a bias towards her as a result of their connection.
GMB became the second most complained about show of the year following the furore.
Despite the uproar, Ofcom ruled it would not launch an investigation into the programme.
However, ITV boss Dame Carolyn McCall vowed the same scenario would not be repeated.
Ed served as Secretary of State for Children, Schools and Families under Tony Blair and then as Shadow Chancellor of the Exchequer.
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He tied the knot with Yvette in 1998 and they share three children.
They went on to become the first ever married couple to serve alongside each other in the British Cabinet back in 2008.
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