This Morning's Dermot O'Leary branded rude as he shouts over co-star in fiery debate

This Morning star Dermot O'Leary has been slammed as 'very rude' after he shouted over Rachel Johnson on Friday's episode of the ITV magazine show. The presenter, 52, was in his usual slot alongside Alison Hammond at the helm of the programme and they had been joined by Rachel, the sister of ex-Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and Gyles Brandreth to discuss the topics of the day.

The four of them had been dissecting the issue of retirement after it was revealed that30 per cent of over 50s had returned to work, and Rachel suggested this was the way to 'solve' the issue of strikes.

She said: "Do you remember in the pandemic you saw a lot of retired consultants going back and helping? This is the way to solve the public sector strikes, get all the people who have retired.

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She added: "Retrain quickly to be a tube driver on £72,000 a year and we wouldn't have had the work that we've had if we could've subbed all the people who knew how to press a button on a tube train."

Dermot quickly cut in: "It's a lot more complicated than that, and also, they're not striking over pay," before Rachel shot back: "Well they are!"

But the former X Factor continued to talk over her and silenced her with: "Let's get on...let's get back on track. Let's get back on track with the point!" drawing out each word as he said it.

Rachel then laughed: "I think I've triggered Dermot there," as he continued: "My trigger is there's this rush to automation and we never think about the opportunity cost of this. People need purpose and they need people."

The moment did not go unnoticed by viewers at home, and they flooded social media to defend Rachel.

One wrote: "Dermot was very rude just then #This Morning," whilst another said: "Why did Dermot react like that!? Bit odd."

In reply, another fan said: "I know!! Saying let’s get back on track when what she was saying was a valid and relevant point. Very odd!"

A fourth viewer questioned: "What's wrong with Dermot , letssss getttt bacckkk onnn poinnnttt !!!" and a fifth said: "Dermot like a coiled spring this morning!"

It comes just days after the show scooped up an NTA Award, and Dermot appeared to touch on the show's turbulent period - which saw long-standing hosts Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby both depart - in the winners' room.

The Sun quoted him as saying: "There is a team who have worked on the show since I started who have had to endure an awful lot of s***.

"But they've turned up to work everyday with the greatest grace and professionalism and uncertainty and they have never done anything but put their heart and souls into this job. We are, genuinely as a team, in awe of them.

"Two and a half hours of live telly every day is quite something but to do it, to endure it under the spotlight of being on the front page of the news - we aren't supposed to be on the front page of the news."

He continued: "This show holds a mirror up to Britain and also tried to entertain it, so to reclaim this award is something we would never take lightly... it means an awful lot, especially to those people who have been through the mill."

This Morning airs on weekdays on ITV from 10am

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