Ed Balls, the former Labour shadow chancellor turned Good Morning Britain presenter, found himself in an awkward position on Tuesday as he reacted to his wife, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, choosing the ITV show as her favourite breakfast programme. The exchange occurred after a pre-recorded interview with Cooper was played on air, where she hesitated before naming GMB, adding that she would be 'in real trouble' at home if she chose otherwise.
Awkward Exchange on Live Television
During the interview, Cooper giggled nervously when asked to pick her preferred morning show. 'I'm going to have to say GMB, because otherwise I would be in real trouble when I get home,' she said. The clip was broadcast on Good Morning Britain, prompting co-host Susanna Reid and other ITV colleagues to laugh. Reid joked, 'She has to work out a way to see Ed, right?' However, Balls was less amused. 'A bit grudging if you ask me. Come on, Yvette - that's all you can do,' he said. 'You might as well go watch BBC Breakfast. Look, she's travelling around the world and she's missing her sleep. So, a bit of BBC Breakfast in the morning, you know...' he added with a shrug.
Accusations of Bias Continue
The incident has reignited accusations of bias against Balls, who has faced criticism since his wife joined Prime Minister Keir Starmer's cabinet. In November 2025, viewers complained when Balls interviewed Chancellor Rachel Reeves, with one tweeting: '#GMB Ed Balls should not be interviewing his wife’s colleague who she sat next to on the front bench yesterday; he is an ex-Labour Chancellor and is pro Reeves agenda. He’s biased.' Another added: 'I like Ed Balls, but he literally just said to Rachel Reeves, great Budget, just shame it was leaked. If that's not biased broadcasting, I'm not sure what is! #GMB.'
Measures to Maintain Impartiality
To avoid conflicts of interest, Balls typically exits the presenting desk when Cooper appears on the show, leaving co-hosts like Susanna Reid or Kate Garraway to conduct interviews with her. In April 2025, Cooper's appearance on the programme was branded a 'car crash' by viewers after she was grilled by Reid over asylum rules. Critics labelled the interview 'unacceptable' due to the conflict of interest, though Balls was absent during her segment. The couple previously faced over 8,000 Ofcom complaints after an interview regarding the 2024 riots, but the regulator declined to investigate, noting that the relationship was made clear and other presenters led the questioning.
