Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid poke fun at their weight gain as they front Good Morning Britain for the first time on Christmas Day.
The news anchors, aged 55 and 50, joke about putting on the pounds during the coronavirus pandemic, with presenter Piers admitting he had to slash the back of his festive jumper into order to fit into it for his TV appearance.
Joining the dynamic duo are special guests Dame Joan Collins, singer Katherine Jenkins, Rev. Justin Welby and fitness guru Joe Wicks, who surprisingly confesses he ditches his strict regime during the celebratory season.
‘My jumper is a little tight!’ Piers Morgan (pictured L on Friday and R in February) and Susanna Reid poke fun at their weight gain as they front GMB for the first time on Christmas Day
Putting on a typically hilarious display, host Piers kicks off the show by detailing his wardrobe issues following months of nationwide lockdowns.
The media personality tells his co-star: ‘I always wear a silly jumper on Christmas and I’ve worn one here with penguins to reflect the fact that I often identify as a two spirit penguin as you know…
‘[it’s] a little tight, in fact, so tight they had to physically slash the back of the jumper. I’m not going to show you yet but I might do later once the mulled wine starts to kick in but…
‘Let’s just say it wasn’t quite big enough so Debbie, ”Debbie Dresses”, we call her who normally works on dresses…Had to come to me with a large pair of secateurs and just basically go csshhrrt and so you know it sort of loosened things up a bit.’
‘I had to loosen things up a bit’: News anchor Piers, 55, admits he had to slash the back of his festive jumper into order to fit into it for his TV appearance
‘I have put on, let’s say quite a few pounds, in lockdown and over the year…’: Journalist Susanna, 50, also reveals her weight woes (pictured R in March)
Susanna – who has been teetotal for over a year – reveals her weight woes as she adds: ‘Yes and I have put on, let’s say quite a few pounds, in lockdown and over the year…’
They are later joined by YouTuber Joe, 34, for a virtual interview, where he admits he lets himself go on December 25 each year.
The Body Coach says: ‘100%. Look on Christmas Day, I don’t do any exercise, eat as much as I can, then fall asleep, then wake up and go again and try to eat as much as I can. I love it.
‘Christmas Day is all about food and being lazy and watching movies. I’m looking forward to getting stuck in later on.’
In good company: Joining the dynamic duo is fitness guru Joe Wicks, 34, who surprisingly confesses he ditches his strict regime during the celebratory season (pictured in August)
The TV stars also exchange presents to each other, with Susanna receiving a pair of ear defenders and a bracelet with the words ‘From Shouty to Pouty’ emblazoned across it, while Piers is given two crickets touring caps from the Geoffrey Boycott collection and an award-winning British sparkling wine.
Former BGT judge Piers is left overwhelmed with emotion as they are also gifted with football shirts.
‘You couldn’t wish for more on Christmas than a bit of cricket, a bit of champagne and a bit of football. So thank you… [I’m] very touched by this’, the journalist adds.
Appearing to be in good company, they also speak to the Archbishop Of Canterbury, who reveals he prays for them both.
The 64-year-old says: ‘I say that to everyone who is watching, just give yourself a few moments, even if you don’t believe in God you can start a prayer by saying…
”’God, if you’re there look after Piers Morgan and Susanna, she needs the looking after when she’s working with Piers and I remember my gran who had Covid… [remember] my friend so and so, I pray for his family they will be missing him so much.”’
Iconic actress Dame Joan, 87, also touches base with the writers as she compares her experience with living through World War II to the current coronavirus pandemic.
The Dynasty star explains: ‘Well this year has been worse than anything I can possibly remember because you see I was such a young child during the time of the war and my mother was terribly protective and although she was scared stiff, she didn’t really allow us to be scared.
‘And we were constantly, my sister was a baby, we were constantly shuffled around, we were evacuated all over the place, Chichester, Oxford, Brighton, Bognor, Ilfracombe, Dewsbury, you name it, we went.
‘We went for maybe two or three months then we would come back, and the Blitz would start.
Warm wishes: Appearing to be in good company, they also speak to the Archbishop Of Canterbury Justin Welby, 64, (pictured in January), who reveals he prays for them both
‘It was quite scary going down into the Tube stations at night but it was so convivial Piers and Susanna, that’s what I miss about this last nine months, people were hugging each other.
‘Laughing and drinking and talking and telling jokes and playing, what are those things, accordions and it was a lovely atmosphere that I remember of friendliness and camaraderie. And frankly I’ve really missed that.’
Quoting the late Dame Vera Lynn, the thespian addresses the nation: ‘We’ll meet again, as soon as possible, I hope, and I think we will.
‘Now that we have this vaccine that I will go rushing to get, I think that we can all start looking on the bright side again.’
‘It’s been worse than anything before’: Dame Joan Collins, 87, also touches base with the writers as she compares this year to living through World War II (pictured this month)