BBC News Emily Maitlis's shock SWIPE at Piers Morgan - 'You do entertainment, we do news'
BBC NEWS host Emily Maitlis took a major swipe at Piers Morgan as she claimed the ITV Good Morning Britain presenter "does entertainment" and not "the news."
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The BBC News presenter took a dig at Piers Morgan as they discussed an ongoing case on equal pay launched last month by BBC host Samira Ahmed. Emily Maitlis pointed out the case, which argues Ms Ahmed should be paid the same as male colleagues for the same services, highlighted the big difference between "entertainment and news" in the media industry. Ms Maitlis told the Good Morning Britain host: "One of the things it’s thrown up id the difference between news and entertainment.
"Now, you are an entertainer Piers, we do news. I’m just saying."
While speaking, Ms Maitlis appeared to turn towards Mr Morgan's co-host Susanna Reid, which sparked the shocked reaction of the outspoken commentator: "Are you looking at her when you say that?"
The affronted reaction sparked the cheeky laughter from Ms Maitlis and Ms Reid, who jokingly commented her colleague is the "fluff and nonsense correspondent" for the programme.
Ms Maitlis continued: "I think, generally, it would be nice to have those two recognised equally, wouldn’t you?"
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Mr Morgan however expressed his disagreement, claiming "star power" should be rewarded for helping plump up programmes' views.
He said: "I don’t know about that because I think the star power has to play a factor, even at the BBC.
"Actually, particularly there. It’s like Gary Lineker always cops in as well. He’s probably the best at what he does and could probably command more money."
But Ms Maitlis claimed Mr Lineker, the presenter of BBC's popular Match of the Day, contributed to his programme with a high level of expertise.
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The BBC News host said: "Gary Lineker is very different because you have been an expert in your field at what you do.
"Like, having an amazing astronomer, fantastic - Gary Lineker played for England, he is now talking about the things he has ‘perfected’."
She added: "That’s not a difference between an entertainment show - it’s not that he is an entertainer, he’s brilliant.
"The expertise, the knowledge, bringing everything he has experienced to the show."
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According to court listings, Samira Ahmed alleges “failure to provide equal pay for equal value work”.
After the scandal over the former China editor Carrie Gracie’s pay broke, Ms Ahmed was vocal about the broadcaster’s lack of pay equality.
In June 2018 Ms Gracie won £280,000 in a bitter battle with her employer after they had refused to pay her the same amount as Jon Sopel, a fellow international editor.
The row led to her resignation in protest but she later returned to her former post in the newsroom.
Ms Ahmed is seeking up to £700,000 in back pay she alleges to be owed for the period between November 2012 and February 2019 for work similar to BBC Radio 1 colleague Jeremy Vine.
The BBC has however rejected the claim and says the work Ms Ahmed and Mr Vine have been doing is not comparable.