Good Morning Britain presenter Richard Madeley has faced criticism from ITV viewers following a controversial comment he made on Monday morning’s show.
The TV presenter has come under fire after describing Africa as a country during a discussion about vaccines abroad with Gordon Brown.
While discussing the vaccine rollout to other countries, Madeley said: "It's not just loading these boxes onto plans and flying them out to countries like Africa, we've got to have the infrastructure to be able to deliver the jabs haven't we."
Brown replied: "Yes we've been working on that as well and we're getting the money to give it to African countries so that they can build up their ability to administer the vaccines not just in the cities but in the rural areas and the small towns."
READ MORE: Gordon Brown appointed to senior role at World Health Organisation
Co-host Susanna Reid added: "I think people watching might think, well hang on a moment, we hadn't expected to do vaccinations of young people and we hadn't expected to do the booster jabs.
"There was a hope that a double jab might be enough, is there a reason to be a little bit cautious about those jabs we have in reserve because there may be other reasons we might need to use them?"
Madeley's controversial comment drew criticism from Good Morning Britain viewers who took to social media to share their thoughts.
One viewer tweeted: “’Third world’ ‘countries like Africa’ – not sure Richard Madeley belongs on TV in 2021.”
A second viewer of the ITV breakfast show said: “Is TV land that barren and devoid of talent that Richard Madeley is the only option for #GMB to have as presenter ???”
A third said: “Ignorant, uneducated , Richard Madeley should know countries like Africa are now labelled ‘Developing Countries’ NOT ‘third world’.”
“Heard Richard Madeley call Africa a country on live TV,” added a fourth.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article