Former EastEnders star John Partridge caused a stir on Good Morning Britain today when he appeared on the show wearing a vest, prompting viewers to complain about his armpits and chest being on display so early in the morning.
Viewers React to His Gym-Style Attire
While guests typically wear shirts and trousers on the sofa, fans accused the 55-year-old actor of looking like he had just come from the gym. Taking to X, one viewer wrote: “WHAT is he wearing??? Far too much hair on show!” Another said: "Do we really need to see his hairy armpits and chest at 9:37 in the morning?" A third wondered: "Has he got the gym after?"
John, best known for playing Christian Clarke on the BBC soap from 2008 to 2012, with brief returns in 2015 and 2016, was on the show to discuss his upcoming role as Dr. Hannibal Lecter in a stage adaptation of The Silence of the Lambs.
Jokes About Hannibal Lecter Role
Despite the outfit backlash, John had plenty to say about his new role, joking to host Richard Madeley, who wore a smart black suit jacket: “Once you take the cannibalism out of the equation, Hannibal Lecter and myself aren’t too different. He’s a cultured man, he’s travelled, he likes art and the music and the ballet – and he’s got a perfect size 10 just like me. So I feel I am not too dissimilar from him.”
John, who has worked in the West End since he was 16, has previously spoken about his battles with alcohol addiction, saying: "Any form of addiction is about not wanting to feel, whether that is food, drugs, drink, shopping, sex... that's what it's about and that's what I didn't want to do. I didn't want to feel. I never felt confident in just being myself and just allowing myself to feel like me. And that's why it took me a long time to [change my life around]."
Upcoming Stage Show with Soap Stars
John will star alongside former Coronation Street actress Mollie Gallagher and former Emmerdale star Oliver Farnworth in the stage production. Mollie, whose final Corrie scenes are set to air at the end of August, expressed her excitement about working with soap legends, saying: "I grew up loving Corrie and one of my favourite characters was always Carla Connor so when I found out I was going to be working alongside Ali King I was really excited and nervous. It’s like I’ve watched all these people on my telly and now I am working with them. When I found out I was going to be Roy’s niece, I was so happy. I thought, 'Wow what an amazing person to work alongside', I still can’t believe it. Even now I still think wow I’m actually on the set of Coronation Street!"
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
