Dan Walker has looked back on his past TV rivalry with Piers Morgan, claiming the former Good Morning Britain presenter "overstepped the mark" at times with some of his insults and actions.
During their time on breakfast TV - Dan at the BBC, Piers on ITV - the two broadcasters would often exchange friendly banter about ratings, before things turned a nastier towards the end of Piers' tenure on mainstream TV.
Dan took over from from Bill Turnbull on BBC Breakfast in February 2016, while Piers became a Good Morning Britain anchor in October 2015.
Both have since moved on to pastures new, with Dan beginning his new position with the Channel 5 news team on June 6.
Meanwhile, after storming off the set of Good Morning Britain in March 2021, Piers now heads up newly launched TalkTV programme, Piers Morgan Uncensored - which attracted an average of 61,700 viewers at the start of May.
Reflecting on the period he would go head-to-head in the same time slot against Piers, Dan has revealed he wouldn't "want to portray a persona" like the controversial presenter - claiming he feels it would come across " very fake".
Discussing the incident that saw Piers smash a cup with the BBC Breakfast logo on it in 2017, Channel 5's new leading news anchor said: "I’ve never dipped to his level of insults. I think he overstepped the mark when he smashed a mug with my face on it."
"I don’t need to do that sort of thing."
He went on to add: "When I first started at BBC Breakfast, I met him at a function and he said, 'You’re going to be terrible. We’re going to annihilate you.' But my attitude was to remain quietly confident."
Dan announced his exit from the BBC in April this year, after stating that the offer to join Channel 5 was an opportunity that doesn't "come around very often".
The journalist become a well-known face on the BBC over the years, presenting Breakfast, Football Focus and participating in the most recent series of Strictly Come Dancing, finishing fifth with partner Nadiya Bychkova.
Dan began his role hosting Channel 5's evening bulletin with Claudia-Liza Vanderpuije earlier this month, but not before a cheeky appearance on Good Morning Britain earlier the same day - where he poked fun at his former nemesis Piers.
Speaking to ITV hosts Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley about his decision to leave early-morning TV behind him, Dan didn't miss a chance to have a cheeky did at the show's former anchor Piers.
"Would you have come on this show when the former occupant of Richard's seat was on? Could you and Piers Morgan be in a studio together?" Susanna asked the Channel 5 star during the broadcast on June 6.
Dan replied: "Of course we could. You know what he’s like. He’s a troublemaker. But he’s good to spend time with."
But before his appearance on the show came to an end, Dan mimicked the last time Piers ever appeared on the ITV show.
"I’m going to do what they normally do on this programme," the star quipped as he got up to leave. "Storm off."
Piers walked off the set of Good Morning Britain in March 2021, after he was questioned regarding his controversial comments surrounding the Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle's experience with poor mental health.
The Mirror has approached a representative for Piers for comment.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webcelebs@mirror.co.uk or call us direct at 0207 29 33033
