We all have our favourite TV and radio personalities, something I have covered in a post regarding Chris Evans. Apparent to those who have read it that he is number one on my list when it comes to radio presenters and therefore radio shows. Admittedly Steve Wright and Ken Bruce are very close behind him, but he stands out for me.
When it comes to TV and specifically news programmes, I tend to stick with the BBC. I like many pop the news on in the morning to see what is going on in the world, and again it tends to be with the BBC team as I find it a well-presented programme that suits me, and let’s face it we all tend to watch stuff because it suits us.
And so to Piers Morgan, what can I say? I actually like Piers, to the extent I have often said our country should be run by a committee of say fifteen to seventeen people, always an odd number, because when decisions need to be made, this committee would have to sit and discuss the matter, then decide and then vote on it. They would never be able to abstain from any vote, and so a decision would always be made with the highest number winning the vote and so never a draw, therefore never uncertainty – a decision made.
My committee would consist of influential people and importantly, successful people from all sectors. To start with I would probably ask Sir Alex Ferguson, Richard Branson (via video link from his hammock), probably Duncan Bannatyne he always comes across as a thinker and level headed. Sir James Ratcliffe seems to be quite successful and obviously a clever man. I would possibly ask Sir Alan Sugar. I would then look at other sectors such as Health, Science, and Technology and more. People from all cultures and religions and from wherever was required to get the mix right. 
It would be challenging to finalise the committee as the choices would be endless, maybe on hindsight the committee would have to be bigger, who knows perhaps twenty-five to twenty-seven, maybe even into the thirties’ who knows. Oh and let’s not forget Boris Johnson either!
However, the point I’m getting to is that I would also ask Piers Morgan to be on that committee. (He would probably say no if Sir Alan was on it too)!! I can hear the moans and groans already, but that is just my choice, the choices we all have. Again on hindsight, we would probably have to do this by public vote, with each person being able to vote for their top five from a list of a hundred or so candidates, who knows? But I’m sure I could work something out if ever asked.
Piers is direct, he doesn’t suffer fools and when he wants to get the point over he always seems to have the facts, and on a couple of occasions, he has shot MP’s and Ministers down in flames as they don’t seem to know what they are on about and he does. I would have to say he is a very clever and knowledgeable man.
However clever and knowledgeable Piers is, I’m afraid his interviewing style does not necessarily make for good TV, especially not for me. And especially not first thing in the morning when it is a quieter time for most of us. I have tried to watch GMB twice recently, and I have had to switch channels because all I can hear is people talking over each 
other and practically shouting. People not being allowed to finish what they are saying and so not achieving very much as often the question or point being discussed isn’t concluded, and not really hearing what either is saying, because of this talking over each other.
It is, of course, Piers who tends to lead these interviews, and therefore Piers who is doing the interrupting and the talking over his guests as they try to answer his question(s) and it is not good TV and not good listening or watching, again not for me.
In today’s world, some would say it is a form of bullying, and I can see how they say this. Bullying doesn’t have to be in a physical form with punches thrown. Mental bullying is widespread these days, and I have witnessed it a couple of times both times at work. Once was the boss 
who used his position to get what he wanted. A bit like the old fashioned way and similar to ‘I am the Boss do it my way or leave’ scenario, rather than being able to talk to, and manage people, and occasionally with some expletives thrown in too.
The second was an employee of the same status as those he worked with but had to get everything his way and so verbally abused people who would then shrink away from him and do what he wanted them to. This gave him the power he wanted, and he thrived on it. I was one of the fellow employee’s, and I wouldn’t take it, and I would tell him where to go if he tried it with me and so he pretty much left me alone, or he got as good as he gave. Others were not the same, shrinking away from him and he enjoyed it.
So back to Piers, I am not saying he is a bully, and I understand why he does what he does as I believe he wants to cause the controversy and to be in control of the situation, but I would ask is that bullying? For some it is, but not according to of Ofcom it’s not, as he has been cleared of any wrongdoings saying that Morgan is ‘well known for his combative 
interviewing style.’ And ‘his guests were given adequate opportunity to put their points across and counter the presenter’s criticisms. However, Helen Whateley accused him of ‘shouting at me and not giving me a chance to answer your questions’. And in some respects, I agree with her.
When Piers asks a question, and it is not being answered the way he wants or believes it should be, he tends to interrupt and talk over people who often carry on talking to finish answering the question. So we have a battle of the voices, often raised to be heard, and it’s not good listening. I get how it is a popular programme as on the opposite side to the coin, as people like to see confrontation and arguments, and we all have our own choices and opinions.
And that is the short version, but surely in this day and age of awareness with Mental Health Issues, raising voices at people to get the point over is considered a form of bullying and that is what Helen Whateley accused him of and how she felt.
And my opinion? Well, it’s a difficult one, I don’t believe Piers is a bully as such or a bully as we know them, but I can also see why people think he is when he is interviewing, and I am only doing what Piers does, I am raising a point! The thing is I won’t interrupt you here – I promise. But another opinion is simple; if you are going to be interviewed by Piers Morgan, know your facts and be honest. If Piers asks you a question and you can’t answer it then say so, but go on with your facts or go on at your peril.
My take on this is that with my issues and previous problems, I don’t want to listen to this type of TV, it doesn’t suit me first thing in the morning as I don’t like the quarrelsome side to the interviewing. Ofcom may say that it is okay and if that is their decision, then that is fine by me. But if I am in the wrong mood, or just not feeling right, I can actually start to feel uncomfortable when I hear it. I am no hard man, but I am no wimp either. I rarely back down from anyone with any form of confrontation, but I would rather live with no confrontation what so ever
But back to GMB – it is not for me, and I have to assume here that if it makes me feel uncomfortable, it will make others feel the same way. In my opinion, this is an example of today’s society, possibly making people’s anxiety levels rise if they were to watch this type of TV. There are heightened levels in people’s voices, it is argumentative, it is confrontational, and these are aspects that some people with anxiety don’t like, and I can say this from experience. But compare it to the person mentioned in ‘My Story 9’ who finds it challenging to deal with people, with this often focusing around people arguing then surely if she watched this programme she too would feel uncomfortable. Her anxiety levels may subsequently rise – I really don’t know, and I can’t answer for her or others, but I can for me. And I would love to know from other people as an ex-sufferer if they too don’t enjoy this form of TV. (actually reading Twitter comments people don’t like it). And as I keep saying and do in nearly every related story, ‘we are all different.’
What I do know is that when Piers lets people talk and answer the question, and they get it wrong he is onto them in a flash and does it in a way that does show that he knows, he has the facts, and they don’t when they should. He can do it in a way that lets him win. He makes them look inadequate or incompetent in their position, and that makes good viewing and allows us to see that these people often ministers or other people in positions of responsibility don’t seem to know what is going on. Still, there is a way to do it, and continually talking over them to try to get the point over is not the way, certainly not for me.
The good thing for me is that I have a choice, and the choice involves the 
TV remote control and sorry Piers, but for the moment and the foreseeable future Dan and Naga will always get my vote, but as you get good viewing figures, I’m sure this one person watching BBC won’t bother you too much?