After five and a half years as a TV journalist, Jess Phillips says she is well qualified to complain about breakfast television. She has spent countless hours watching Good Morning Britain, BBC Breakfast and GB News, often to the point where the programmes haunt her dreams. Social media is full of complaints about presenters like Ed Balls, Richard Madeley and Naga Munchetty, but Phillips disagrees with the consensus. She finds Madeley hilarious, Munchetty skilled at grilling politicians, and Balls a source of levity. Her list of the worst breakfast presenters includes five other names.
Stephen Dixon: Controversial Comments and Lack of Expertise
Stephen Dixon, who co-hosts GB News’ breakfast show with Ellie Costello, is described as a spiritual successor to Eamonn Holmes – both seem unaware of what they are talking about. Phillips criticises Dixon for controversial remarks. In 2017, while working for Sky News, he asked whether intoxicated women should be partially blamed for their own sexual assaults. When a female guest challenged him, Dixon replied that he would be responsible if he was out provoking someone. Phillips calls the suggestion that women provoke men into assaulting them sickening and questions why Dixon remains on air. She also notes that Dixon objected to Sky making him undergo unconscious bias training, which she believes he sorely needs.
Jon Kay: Boring and Uncontroversial
BBC Breakfast’s Jon Kay makes the list purely for being boring. He replaced Dan Walker, who Phillips also found dull but affably cringe. Jon Kay is reluctant to share personal anecdotes and is completely uncontroversial. The most contentious thing about him, according to Phillips, is an apology he made after forgetting a famous actor’s name.
Kate Garraway: Better Suited to Documentaries
Good Morning Britain’s Kate Garraway has proven her worth with documentaries about her husband Derek Draper’s illness and death from long Covid, but Phillips believes her breakfast TV skills fall flat. Kate lacks the gravitas of a hard-hitting political reporter and the bubbly charm of Richard Madeley. Phillips suggests it is time for Garraway to move on to new endeavours.
Richard Arnold: Outdated and Lacking Enthusiasm
Richard Arnold, GMB’s entertainment correspondent, is criticised for both his delivery and content. Phillips, a showbiz reporter herself, says his reports resemble an out-of-date Argos catalogue. The news he presents often broke the night before or is weakly deemed an exclusive when it is from ITV’s own offerings. His fake enthusiasm for the content makes him a poor fit for the role.
Jeremy Kyle: Right-Wing Agitator
Jeremy Kyle, now on TalkTV, is described as a right-wing agitator similar to the sacked Mike Graham. Phillips notes that his ITV show was entertaining but exploitative, leading to a guest’s suicide. Since then, Kyle has adopted Piers Morgan’s debating style, talking over guests and being loud. Phillips says she finds herself turning to something less noisy whenever she sees his segments.
