Good Morning Britain descended into a heated debate on Thursday morning as presenter Ben Shephard dropped a bombshell confession about his tipping habits that left co-host Kate Garraway utterly stunned.
The ITV star revealed he flatly refuses to leave tips in restaurants and cafes, regardless of service quality, sparking a fiery on-air discussion about British tipping culture.
The Controversial Confession
"I don't tip," Shephard declared bluntly during the segment. "I don't tip in coffee shops, I very rarely tip in restaurants." The admission prompted audible gasps from both Garraway and the production team.
Shephard defended his position by questioning why customers should supplement workers' incomes when employers should be paying proper wages. "Why are we having to pay the staff?" he argued. "The people who are selling the coffee should be paying the staff properly."
Kate Garraway's Fierce Rebuttal
Garraway immediately challenged her colleague's stance, expressing disbelief at his hardline approach. The discussion grew increasingly animated as she highlighted the financial realities for many service industry workers.
"What about the people who are working there who are on minimum wage?" Garraway countered, emphasizing how tips often make the difference between struggling and surviving for many hospitality employees.
Viewers React to Tipping Divide
The segment sparked immediate reaction on social media, with viewers passionately divided on the issue. Many criticised Shephard's position as out-of-touch, while others supported his stance against what they see as subsidising employers' responsibilities.
The debate comes amid growing discussion about tipping culture in the UK, particularly with the rise of digital payment systems that prompt for gratuities in settings previously not associated with tipping.
This isn't the first time Shephard has found himself at the centre of controversy on the breakfast show, though his latest revelation has certainly generated among the most passionate responses from the GMB audience.
