GMB: Ed Balls asks Sam Neill about his chickens
Good Morning Britain viewers have expressed their dismay, claiming the programme has "gone down the toilet" following a "cringe" segment featuring actor Sam Neill on Wednesday (January 8).
The interview, led by hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls, was criticised for its repetitive nature, with the presenters repeatedly asking the Hollywood star about his pet chickens, a topic that fans felt had already been overdone on the show.
Disgruntled viewers took to the social media platform X - previously known as Twitter - to voice their frustration. The consensus among the audience was clear - they were tired of hearing about the actor's uniquely named poultry.
One viewer vented: "Ed Balls absolute cringe worthy 'interview' with the legend that is Sam Neill. Asking him about chicken FFS #gmb." (sic)
Another echoed the sentiment, stating: "This show has gone down the toilet!" (sic)
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Further complaints rolled in, with one person saying: "Yes Ed, sam neill names his pets after actors we get it move on! #gmb." Another added: "We've heard about the chicken before this is not new, switching off." (sic)
The anticipation for the peculiar line of questioning was set even before the interview began, with Ed eagerly preparing to delve into the topic of Neill's chickens and their celebrity-inspired names, reports the Manchester Evening News.
In a conversation with Susanna, he queried: "He's got a chicken named Keira?" To which the surpirsed GMB star responded: "What?" Ed elaborated: "You know, after Keira Knightley. He has a whole host of chicken's named after famous actors."
Sam made a virtual appearance and it wasn't long before Ed delved into an offbeat inquiry about his birds, seemingly to score some points during the broadcast with his co-host.
As their interaction progressed, much to the dismay of the audience, the actor's poultry kept popping back into the discussion. The trio were initially dissecting why Sam, recognised predominantly for his portrayal of Dr Grant in the legendary film series, had missed out on a spot in a James Bond project, despite participating in a pilot and passing through the selection process.
They offered up a clip that even Sam himself hadn't laid eyes on previously. Post-clip, both Ed and Susanna expressed their bafflement at Sam's missed opportunity, complimenting him: "They were wrong. You were really good."
The dialogue then swung unexpectedly back to farm talk, with Ed quizzically probing: "Do you have a chicken or pig or a cow named Sean Connery? Or other James Bond superstars?"
Persisting with the theme, the host pressed on, curiously musing over which animal Sam would personify as the famed spy, remarking on the iconic role that narrowly escaped him.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1, from 6am.
