ITV made a significant change to This Morning on Monday, October 12, airing the show in black and white for the first time to help a guest with a rare fear of colour feel more at ease.
Hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley welcomed New Yorker Anthony Shurigin, who lives with chromophobia – an uncommon fear of colour. Before the conversation began, the hosts revealed they wanted to help Anthony feel more "comfortable" by converting the broadcast to monochrome.
Guest explains his colour phobia
Anthony explained that the black and white look "has a level of sameness and consistency that can be less overwhelming than a room with a bunch of colours."
"One of the driving factors behind it is because New York is so overstimulating and colourful and loud," he continued. "I love coming home to an environment that doesn't have any of that. I feel like I can hear myself think better and be more productive that way."
Anthony disclosed that he has lived with OCD for most of his life, though his specific aversion to colour emerged during his school years. This gradually led him to change his wardrobe to completely monochrome before focusing on his bedroom, with footage of his home life generating around one million likes on social media.
Family support and monochrome Christmas
Pictures of his room were shown on This Morning, including a black and white Christmas tree. Anthony explained: "The one [Christmas tree] we have in our living room is white themed and all white and silver."
He went on to describe how his chromophobia has affected his family, saying: "My parents have been super supportive. They are usually wearing black and white around me. They completely understand it. If anything, they're proud of how much online success I've had due to this, turning something that sounds limiting into a sort of personal brand and aesthetic.
"It's very cool but when it comes to outside, the best example I can give people is it's like going to a job you don't like, as silly as that sounds. I can't control the outside but I can control my own environment so it's that balance."
Anthony said he sees no "purpose" in reintroducing colour into his life and ultimately dreams of living in a home that is entirely monochrome. This Morning continues weekdays at 10am on ITV and ITVX.
