Good Morning Britain 's Richard Madeley clashed live on air with union boss Mick Lynch as the presenter called the RMT General Secretary "ridiculous" and co-host Kate Garraway was forced to step in.
Mr Lynch appeared on the ITV show on Tuesday morning amid the rail strikes taking place this week, as union members walk out in an ongoing dispute with Network Rail over pay and working conditions. Last week, the RMT union confirmed that further industrial action will also go ahead from Christmas Eve until December 27.
Confronting the union chief over the decision made by Network Rail workers to strike over the festive period, Richard began: "Many people who support your right to strike and support your cause are appalled that you're striking over Christmas. They feel that it's an act of almost sadism and unkindness.
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"Whatever happened to Christmas kindness?" he asked Mr Lynch. "Why couldn't you put all of these strikes, every single one of them, into January? Why do you have to target people at Christmas?"
The presenter then went on to accuse the union boss: "You're going to be putting people out of business who run hotels, who run restaurants, who run bars, and retailers. This is the time of year when they make their money, and you are robbing them of their income for the coming year - many of them are saying they're going to go bust."
Mr Lynch hit back: "We're not targeting Christmas. It isn't Christmas yet, Richard - I don't know when your Christmas starts, but mine starts on Christmas Eve. So we are striking at this time because..."
But the RMT chief was cut off by Richard before he could finish, as the host butted in: "That's disingenuous. Commercial Christmas starts in December, you know that. You're being disingenuous."
The conversation quickly grew heated as the pair talked over one another for a full minute in an attempt to get their points across. As Richard repeated his insistence that Christmas begins at the start of December, calling Mr Lynch "ridiculous" for suggesting it begins on Christmas Eve, the union leader interrupted: "Richard, you're just talking to yourself. You're ranting."
As the presenter came to the end of his point, the union leader asked him: "Right, have you finished then?" Richard then accused Mr Lynch of failing to answer his question, which led to the pair once again talking over one another.
"I won't let you get away with nonsense. Christmas does not start on Christmas Eve," Richard said.
Mr Lynch shot back: "Richard, why don't you just interview yourself if you want to talk to me like this?"
"Cheap point, Mr Lynch," Richard interrupted. "I'm holding you to account on behalf of the viewers, not on behalf of myself. I'm not interested in the sound of my voice, I'd like to hear yours answering the question."
"If you'd like to hear mine, why don't you stop talking for a second?" Mr Lynch asked.
"Because you won't answer the question, and until you do I'll keep interrupting. It's my job. On you go, jog on," Richard answered.
"Well, you can't interrupt me if you won't let me talk," the RMT chief said, before a frustrated Kate Garraway cut in to move the conversation along. The row sparked a reaction from viewers on social media, with one person branding it the "worst interview ever" as many criticised Richard's handling of the conversation.
"Richard Madeley's attempts at serious journalism make my teeth itch," another GMB viewer said. "What a ridiculous man."
A third asked: "Does Richard Madeley have to be so ignorant and totally rude to guests?"
"Richard Madeley, stop embarrassing yourself, stop talking over people and let them answer you, you're just making yourself look silly!" a fourth viewer added.
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