Piers Morgan has confirmed long-held suspicions that he often “plays up to” a media “persona” with his controversial behaviour on Good Morning Britain.

Since joining GMB in 2015, Piers has come under fire on countless occasions, and admitted during a recent appearance on The Mid.Point podcast that he frequently sets out to be “divisive and polarising” when he’s presenting the daytime show.

“Look, there’s a persona that I certainly play up to,” he told presenter Gabby Logan. “I think all television is performance, in a way. I certainly think there’s a sort of theatrical element to it as well. I certainly play up to that.

“I don’t chase around trying to be beloved, it would be a fairly lonely journey if I did. So, I prefer to be divisive and polarising, and get everybody going and wake everybody up in the morning.”

However, he revealed that it’s a rather different story when it comes to his home life, explaining: “When I do get home and shut the door I’m like everybody else, and I get a nice bottle of wine out, have a chat with the kids, talk to my mum and dad, watch a bit of telly. I’m a sea of serenity.”

In early 2020, Piers sparked more than 1600 complaints to Ofcom after he made a string of noises live on air, in what was apparently an imitation of a Chinese advert featuring the Queen’s grandson, Peter Phillips.

ITV apologised for the incident two months later, after which Ofcom issued a warning to the broadcaster about relying on a “combative dynamic” between its presenters. 

In April, Piers thanked his supporters after he was “emphatically” cleared by Ofcom for his “combative” interviews with government officials about the coronavirus pandemic.

Shortly after this, Piers hit out at Boris Johnson, claiming that the PM had forbidden cabinet ministers from appearing on Good Morning Britain, with no one from the government being interviewed on the show for more than 200 days.

Listen to Piers’ full interview on The Mid.Point podcast here.