Alex Beresford 'thanks God, family and friends' amid Piers Morgan feud

26 October 2023 , 06:16

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Alex Beresford 'thanks God, family and friends' amid Piers Morgan feud

Good Morning Britain's Alex Beresford addressed the explosive row he had with Piers Morgan after winning Celebrity Race Across The World.

The weather presenter, 43, was crowned the winner of the TV show alongside his dad Noel as they crossed the finish line in Tromsø, Norway. As he won the challenge alongside his father, he said: "It feels fantastic we are on top of the world right now. This was the toughest experience I have had but we got to travel together as men."

Back in April 2021, former Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan slammed Alex for launching a "premeditated attack" during a row about Meghan Markle that ultimately cost Piers his job after her refused to apologise for his remarks. In dramatic scenes, Piers stormed off set after days of relentless criticism directed at Prince Harry and his wife following their interview with Oprah.

Alex challenged Piers Morgan on his constant criticism of Megan Markle (ITV)

The weatherman challenged Piers on his attack towards the royal couple as he said: "I understand that you don't like Meghan Markle. You've made it so clear a number of times on this programme. I understand you've got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle or had one and she cut you off… she's entitled to cut you off if she wants to. Has she said anything about you since she cut you off? I don't think she has, but yet you continue to trash her."

Piers eventually marched off set before returning to continue presenting the show. Later that day, he quit the ITV breakfast show. Speaking on Celebrity Race Across the World, Alex said: "I've never taken time away from work like this. The pace is different especially when you work in the media.

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"The whole GMB Meghan Markle fall out was definitely a shock to the system to find yourself in the middle of a media storm was crazy. When you get subjected to criticism online you either have to stand up, or fold. You have to grow a thick skin very quickly. It knocked me a little bit. But, I definitely feel stronger having gone through it. When I look back on it now, I thank God for my family and friends because it's those people who get you through."

He added: "You can't dwell on things. You have to move on mentally so you can move on physically. It's been nice to let my hair down so to speak." Following the dramatic GMB episode two years ago, Alex tried to clear the air and released a statement saying: "I hoped we could reach a place of understanding. It's sad that we weren't able to get there, but challenging his opinion was not an outrage. On this occasion, we have to agree to disagree. I didn't want him to quit, but I did want him to listen.

"Personally, Piers has always supported my growth. He's given me advice on several occasions and for that I am grateful. I wish him well!" However in the following months, Piers tried to berate Alex as a "stand-in weather man". In April, 2021 he penned a Mail on Sunday column that appeared to shed light on his take of events surrounding the row.

Former host Piers walked off set and quit Good Morning Britain later that day (ITV)

He accused Alex of "trying to make a name for himself" by attacking him live on air – which he was especially hurt by after claiming he'd gone "out of his way" to give the presenter career advice. He then told US TV viewers: "He's the stand-in weather guys who does the weather occasionally. He's not a journalist."

When speaking on Australia's Today, Piers clarified that he did have an 'interesting' conversation with Alex once he returned to the studios. However, he also then went on to repeat a dig directed at his former co-star. "Most people think I never came back, I actually did come back a few minutes later and we had an interesting conversation," Piers explained. He added: "I don't know if you have a deputy weather person... if you had a deputy stand in weather person suddenly letting you have it in a personal way, I suspect you wouldn't like it either."

Piers rehashed the row this year as he said: "I don’t mind a guest doing that but I do object to someone who had asked to come on the show, who was on the team, who then makes a very personal attack on me." Describing his thought process during the fiery debate he continued: "And so at that moment, I thought there are two things that are going to happen here. Either I’m going to lose my rag and do something I regret – or I’m going to go and walk off.

"I don’t like to think about what I would have done. I was certainly looking at him thinking 'Yeah I better leave the room.'" He then added: "Just for the record, I think he was a treacherous little p***k. So he can say what he likes about me. He absolutely has a right to his opinion. That is my opinion about him," Piers toldAmol Rajanin aBBC interview

Mia O'Hare