EXCLUSIVE 'Morale's on the floor since he left': GMB feels the effects of Piers Morgan's departure five months on with staff desperate for his return
Insiders revealed to MailOnline that 'morale is on the floor' behind-the-scenes at the show, where a number of stand-in hosts have filled the journalist's shoes
Following a viewership of 1.9m back in March, numbers dropped and struggled to reach the levels they had been at for Piers' final shows
While the show's figures have rallied in recent weeks, an insider revealed that Piers' return would be 'the only way the ratings dive can be reversed'
His co-host Susanna Reid, 50, stayed in the post following his departure, while she has been joined by a host of temporary co-stars
An ITV spokesperson said: 'GMB's audience share year-to-date stands at 22%, which is in line with 2020, and up on 2019's audience share by 1.2 share points
'The show's audience is holding up well therefore in 2021, and is also posting year-on-year increases for family audiences, and 16-34 year old viewers'
Good Morning Britain's ratings have suffered a decline since Piers Morgan famously quit the show back in March and staff are keen for the star to return.
Insiders revealed to MailOnline that 'morale is on the floor' behind-the-scenes at the ITV show, where a host of stand-in hosts have filled the 56-year-old journalist's shoes, ever since he left in a fury over a spat about Meghan Markle.
Following an eye-popping viewership of 1.9m back in March, in the past five months, numbers have dropped as the source said: 'Whatever people thought of Piers he got the ratings up and month in month out he pulled in big interviews'.
It has been reported that the numbers fell to under 500k two months ago and in June, Piers wrote about the 'tumbling ratings'. A spokesperson for ITV noted that he audience is 'holding up well' during 2021.
His co-host Susanna Reid, 50, stayed in the post following his departure, while she has been joined by a host of temporary co-stars including Richard Bacon, Richard Madeley and Alastair Campbell - whose recruitment has been deemed 'a low point'.
Piers quit the show after claiming he didn't 'believe a word' Meghan Markle said during her Oprah Winfrey interview, first broadcast on CBS on March 7, leading to a tense exchange with co-star Alex Beresford.
It later emerged that Meghan also made a formal complaint to Ofcom about the TV host after he dismissed her account of suffering suicidal thoughts and experiencing racism at the hands of the Royal Family.
On the desire for Piers to return, the insider said: 'Morale is on the floor and has been getting worse since Piers left. Whatever people thought of Piers he got the ratings up and month in month out he pulled in big interviews.
