ITV viewers have been left shocked to discover a This Morning segment from two years ago was actually fake.
The daytime programme, which is now presented by Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard after they took over from Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield, often hosts agony aunt Deidre Sanders to answer viewer’s queries.
But one call from 2022, which saw a member of the public express their grief for Princess Diana, was actually all a hoax.
Sharing the clip on X, user @d_a_v_e_m_a admitted: ‘Happy 2 year anniversary to when I tricked the #thismorning team into thinking I was someone called Jennifer and I was shaking at the death of princess Diana.’
The clip in question saw stand-in hosts Rochelle Humes and Vernon Kay read out the problem, submitted by someone call ‘Jennifer’.
‘This is a sad one,’ Rochelle began.
She then read: ‘I’m still grieving Princess Diana, I’m too upset to speak on air, but I can’t cope with Princess Diana’s death.
‘She was my favourite, and I can’t move on after 25 years. Does Deidre have any advice?
‘I’m shaking while writing this.’
Dishing out her advice, Deidre said to the camera: ‘I really feel for you, and there are a large number of people who are still shaken by that very, very sudden loss.
‘But when it is as haunting for you as that, my judgement would be that it is probably linked in with something in your own life.’
Deidre went on to advise ‘Jennifer’ to identify their other ‘unresolved issue’ that may be linked to this ‘problem’.
She added: ‘Get help for that because I think you need to move your own life on and then you’ll find you can see that tragic loss, and it was very sad, but it shouldn’t be completely taking over your life in the way that it is at the moment.’
Turns out though, it wasn’t a real caller at all, and viewers have been shocked to discover it was all a set-up.
Fan account @BigBrotherHubUK commented: ‘I was today years old that I found out that this was fake.’
‘I’m really surprised none of them burst out laughing on air lmao,’ @scotsmike1985 replied.
‘”I’m shaking whilst writing this” iconic,’ @JedLeviX said.
‘Wait this was you!?!?!?’ @felixw1 wrote, while @cicicoopers commented: ‘STOP THE WAY I THOUGHT THIS WAS REAL WHEN I SAW IT ON AIR…’
‘The shaking while writing this is killing me,’ @g1b2y25 added.
Others praised Deidre’s ‘sound advice’, though her comments haven’t always been supported by viewers.
Earlier this year, the agony aunt attracted criticism for her comments during a phone-in when she told a caller to return to her cheating husband.
‘There’s no excuse for his behaviour, but have you had a chance to talk to him or has he opened up about what he thinks may be behind that?’ Deidre said, later adding: ‘Have a cuddle, give each other a proper kiss, say I love you, because that helps build up the warm feelings again.’
Viewers were astounded, with one slamming: ‘Deidre, shut the f up,’ and others advising the caller not to listen to her.
This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.
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