ITV GMB slapped with Ofcom complaints over 'bully' presenter after furious clash

has been hit with 81 Ofcom complaints following Ed Balls' interview with Reform MP Richard Tice last month. The former shadow chancellor, who is now a host on the breakfast show, clashed with Tice, who was on the programme to discuss local elections.

Saying he thought Reform UK should come out on top as he blamed Labour and Conservatives for many of the country's problems, Tice addressed Balls "my dear Ed", to which the presenter - who is married to Home Secretary, Yvette Cooper - fumed: "Don't patronise me, answer the question!" Following the fracas, 81 people complained to Ofcom, with the independent body telling the the calls were made "following an interview with Ed Balls and Richard Tice" and "accused the interviewer of bullying and biased behaviour".

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When asked what Reform, which claimed its fifth MP during the local elections last week, had achieved on , Tice replied: "What we have achieved is giving the people the opportunity to say 'we're done with the two main parties'."

He continued: "Someone else has got to come in, save some money and audit the finances and sort things out. We can't keep spending more than we are earning and expect it to end well."

Balls interjected: "We are asking you about what you have done and you are saying that the others have failed. And that's what protest parties do.

"You have always been a politician who has said that the Tories have lost their way and you will be a better version of the Conservative party. Is that right?"

The politician went on to explain that they are very different, and even have similar views as Labour's on certain topics.

then stepped in saying: "I would just like to point out that Tony Blair, I'm sure, does not agree with Reform UK on your policies."

The men then continued to shout over each other as Balls persisted on pinning down the MP for an answer.

A visibly irritated Tice sighed: "My dear Ed." But then Balls fumed: "Do not patronise me!"

They continued to lock horns as Balls fired question after question about the costs of nationalising British Steel to which Tice could not provide the answers.

In the end, the star demanded that the politician make a return to the ITV breakfast show when he has all of the information to answer the questions available.

The Mirror has contacted ITV for comment.

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