Kate Garraway gets into fight on-air after calling Jonathan Ross’ David Walliams statement ‘brave’
Warning: This article contains discussion of allegations of sexual misconduct which some readers may find distressing.
Kate Garraway clashed with a guest on-air during Good Morning Britain as she defended Jonathan Ross’ statement about David Walliams and Russell Brand.
The TV presenter, who was once 'on friendly terms with both men', said in a statement shared with LADbible that he was 'genuinely unaware of their conduct' and was left 'horrified' by allegations of sexual misconduct.
An investigation into Walliams by The Guardian and ITV News accused Walliams of sexual misconduct and grooming. Walliams denies the allegations.
Advert
Brand was handed a 10 year and six month prison sentence after being found guilty of one count of rape and three counts of sexual assault, offences which happened between 2004 and 2009.
On today’s (12 November) episode of the ITV show, Garraway said her 'very good friend' Jonathan Ross 'has done nothing wrong in relation to' the statement he put out, calling him ‘rather brave’.
Guest Baroness Hazarika, a former senior political adviser to the Labour Party, and Garraway kept cutting each other out during the exchange.
The pair also disagreed when Garraway addressed Ross’ now-viral joke about Walliams at the British Comedy Awards in 2004.
“The comedy awards is 15 years old – 15 years old! And like most 15-year-olds, it’s drunk, it’s unpredictable, and it’s probably going home with David Walliams,” Ross said, explaining in his statement that he did not write the 'tasteless' joke which he 'would not dream of making today'.
Ross said he believed the joke was 'a reference to the fact [Walliams] had publicly dated younger women, exaggerated for comic effect'.
Garraway said: "The thing about Jonathan Ross that I was saying is that he has been very kind to me and a very good friend and I didn't know him at all during the period you're referring to.
"I think the reason it came out is that it was a joke that was written for him at an awards ceremony... He wanted to make the point that was written for him."
As Hazarika interjected, Garraway said: “Please, I'm just trying to make my point!"
She continued: "The point I was trying to make is that it was totally wrong, but actually, the culture at the time meant that a show that was put on TV had scriptwriters use..."
In Ross’ statement, he said of the joke: "I recognise how deeply shocking it is to revisit footage of a joke delivered by me at the Comedy Awards in 2004, in which I make light of the notion of Walliams going home with a 15 year old.
"Had I had any reason to suspect that it might be referring to actual events, I would not only have refused to use it, but I would not have felt comfortable continuing a personal or professional relationship with him. I also like to think that I would have acted upon that knowledge.”
LADbible Group has contacted ITV, Kate Garraway and Jonathan Ross' representatives for comment.
If you have been affected by any of the issues in this article and wish to speak to someone in confidence, contact The Survivors Trust for free on 08088 010 818, available 10am-12.30pm, 1.30pm-3pm and 6pm-8pm Monday to Thursday, 10am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-3pm on Fridays, 10am-12.30pm on Saturdays and 6pm-8pm on Sundays.
Topics: Kate Garraway, Jonathan Ross, David Walliams, Good Morning Britain
Anish Vij
