It was meant to be another lively round-table debate on This Morning. Instead, it became one of the most uncomfortable live television moments of the festive season.
Piers Morgan and influencer-turned-campaigner Ashley James found themselves locked in a bitter exchange that quickly spilled far beyond the day’s headlines — dragging a long-simmering feud straight back into the spotlight.
A conversation that turned personal
A conversation that turned personalThe clash unfolded as hosts Ben Shephard and Cat Deeley steered a discussion around whether society has become too quick to take offence. What began as a philosophical debate soon became intensely personal when Ashley challenged the way the word “woke” is now being used in public discourse.
She argued that the term had been distorted from its original meaning — awareness of social injustice — and claimed it was being weaponised by commentators such as Morgan.
Piers, never one to retreat, shot back with a stinging recollection of their previous encounters.
He accused Ashley of presenting herself as a victim after their last on-air disagreement, saying that while their original exchange had been robust yet respectful, she later portrayed herself online as having survived a hostile encounter.
“You’re not some helpless figure,” he told her. “You’re strong, independent — but then suddenly your social media was filled with sympathy posts about how brave you’d been.”
Ashley, visibly irritated, pushed back immediately, insisting that caring about how people feel at work does not make someone weak.
Hosts struggle to regain control
As the pair spoke over one another, the tension became so thick that Ben jokingly asked the production gallery if Morgan could even hear the presenters trying to intervene.
Cat attempted to lighten the mood with humour, suggesting they might need a bell to referee the conversation — but even that failed to slow the escalating exchange.
Piers went on to argue that modern workplaces have become paralysed by fear of causing offence, suggesting that harmless banter, romance and humour have been driven out by hypersensitivity.
Ashley countered that what was once dismissed as “just banter” often made people feel deeply uncomfortable, and that professional environments should never excuse behaviour that crosses personal boundaries.
Not their first showdown
Not their first showdownThis wasn’t the first time the pair have gone head-to-head on the ITV sofa.
Back in September, they clashed fiercely over Prince Harry, with Ashley praising the Duke for his mental health advocacy — only for Piers to accuse him of harming his own family while continuing to profit from royal status.
The pair have also previously argued publicly about feminism, including Emma Watson’s controversial Vanity Fair shoot, with Ashley rejecting Morgan’s criticism as outdated and dismissive of women’s agency.
A moment viewers won’t forget
Wednesday’s exchange left viewers sharply divided — some applauding Morgan for what they saw as blunt honesty, others backing Ashley for standing her ground.
One thing, however, is beyond dispute: the brief discussion about offence culture evolved into a raw, unscripted reminder of just how combustible live television can become when two long-standing rivals are placed across the same sofa.
And once again, This Morning found itself hosting one of the most talked-about showbiz clashes of the Christmas season.
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