'I heard the blow as Ed Balls kicked Susanna Reid in the head next to me'

17 January 2024 , 19:53

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'I heard the blow as Ed Balls kicked Susanna Reid in the head next to me'

Ed Balls kicking Susanna Reid in the head on live telly is one of those moments we're likely to see on blooper shows for the next 20 years.

She’s a tough cookie from Croydon or would’ve crumbled when I heard the clunk sitting next to her. He’s a sturdy lad with a heart of gold and, unfortunately for Susanna, highly polished size 10s.

Ed putting his foot into it, the “it” the back of her head, was a classic case of a studio stunt going painfully wrong. Most days on Good Morning Britain we argue about politics, royal spongers or something serious but this was the first physical Balls Up. Piers Morgan clashed regularly with her and Richard Madeley loves an argument but, I mean, neither ever booted Susanna in the back of the bonce.

Walking into the studio I noticed the four airline seats in two rows so tatty that even Michael O’Leary might hesitate to fit them on Ryanair.

We vented about the Fujitsu Post Office Scandal and the Tories’ Rwanda gimmick before Susanna unexpectedly announced GMB would later debate whether it was ever acceptable to put your feet on top of an airline seat in front. Never is the answer, as we discovered precisely why.

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Ed Balls accidentally kicked Susanna Reid live on Good Morning Britain

Over we trotted to the seats, me taking my lemon and ginger tea (the shame of a lad from a Tyneside working class home drinking that) into a front row seat with Susanna while Tory Boy from the Mail jumped in behind with clogger Ed.

Then it happened. I didn’t see Ed put his feet on the top of her chair but I heard the clash, immediately wondering if the blow was rehearsed spontaneity. It wasn’t.

TV might be a hard gig but there’s been nothing like this since Rod Hull’s Emu molested Michael Parkinson. The shock of the unexpected blow added to Susanna’s suffering as she slumped forward, holding her head.

Ed was gloriously mortified, reddening at unintentionally assaulting a co-presenter. Do that on a real plane and the pilot might be diverting back to the airport where a couple of coppers would be waiting to escort the assailant to the nearest nick.

Two seasoned hacks from the print school of hard knocks, Tory Boy and I immediately took Susanna’s side - how could we not? Should she wish to press charges, hundreds of thousands of watching witnesses will provide statements.

Back in the studio, I wouldn’t be surprised if Susanna wears a crash helmet and Ed, a decent cook, made to sit on a naughty step and eat a slice of humble pie he’s baked over the weekend.

As for Tory Boy and yours truly, next time Susanna scolds us for using language banned by Ofcom we’ll remind her we’re angels compared with the GMB boot boy.

Kevin Maguire DNU