Good Morning Britain viewers have been left unimpressed as Richard Madeley spoke to the deeply upset daughter of a British geologist who has been jailed for 15 years for attempting to remove artefacts from Iraq.
The daughter of Jim Fitton, 66, appeared remotely on the programme alongside her husband and was left too emotional to speak to Richard and co-host Susanna Reid.
Mr Fitton collected shards of broken pottery during an archaeology tour of the country, but has insisted he had no idea he was breaking Iraqi laws when he was arrested at Baghdad International Airport in March.
Under Iraqi law, he could have faced the death penalty, but on Monday a Baghdad court sentenced him to 15 years in prison under the country's antiquities law.
Mr Fitton's daughter Leila and her husband Sam, who have urged the government to help free him, appeared on the ITV morning programme on Tuesday.
But Leila immediately burst into tears, leaving Sam to talk with Richard and Susanna about the dire situation.
Richard insisted he did not “want to distress her anymore”, but then went on to detail the “horrific” conditions in Iraqi prisons.
He said: “We know the conditions in Iraqi prisons are awful by and large. And one of the statistics to come out is horrific.”
Richard then held up a two litre bottle of water, as he noted that is the recommended daily intake according to the World Health Organisation.
He then held up a much smaller 250 millilitre bottle, as he said: “This is routinely all that a prisoner gets in that 24 hour period.
“Have you any more detailed knowledge of the kind of conditions he’s been kept in?”
Sam replied: “We’ve got no idea where he’s going to end up at the moment.
“He’s gone back to a holding cell at the airport and we’re told he’ll be transferred to a general population prison within ten days.
“Obviously, the makeup of those prisons is hugely diverse. He will be in the same place as a variety of terrifying characters as far as we understand, so we are urging the government to support us in asking for Jim to be kept somewhere safe while the appeal is ongoing.”
Good Morning Britain viewers were left appalled by the waterbottle stunt, with many taking to Twitter to label it “distressing” for Leila.
One wrote: “Nice one Richard. Traumatise her more!” as another echoed: “Don’t think Richard should be talking about how awful conditions are whilst this woman is clearly visibly distressed.”
A third tweeted: “I don't want to distress her anymore but..... f***ing hell dickie.”
Another slammed: “No need to highlight the prison conditions. Just stick the knife in Richard. How insensitive.”
A fellow shocked fan wrote: “Bloody hell Richard. Why don't you give them that stats for how many prisoners die in there ffs,” as another wrote: “Actually got physical bottles of water to show her how her dad will die of thirst.”
“Richard Madeley scaring the shit out of the family with a water bottle show and tell,” another tweeted.
