A public spat has broken out between two familiar television faces after veteran presenter Eamonn Holmes made controversial comments about the state of modern TV.
The 'Wokeism' Comments That Sparked the Feud
The row began when GB News presenter Eamonn Holmes, 66, appeared on his son Declan's podcast, Founder & Family Collective, on Friday. During the interview, Holmes launched into a critique of contemporary television, branding it 'pathetic' and blaming 'wokeism' for its decline.
He claimed that television executives are now 'scared' of hiring controversial presenters who might offend viewers. Holmes cited figures like Jeremy Clarkson, Piers Morgan, and Jeremy Kyle as examples of personalities the industry allegedly no longer wants to platform.
'Where television is today, this wokeism through television it's just pathetic,' Holmes stated. He painted a picture of sanitised, insincere on-screen interactions, contrasting them with the edgier content he believes audiences truly want.
Bargain Hunt Star's Blunt Response
The remarks did not go unchallenged. Mark Stacey, the 61-year-old valuer and auctioneer famed for his frequent appearances on BBC's Bargain Hunt, took to social media platform X to respond directly.
Stacey's rebuttal was succinct and dismissive. He wrote of Holmes's claims: 'Yet more tedious claptrap.' This sharp retort quickly ignited a public feud between the two broadcasting personalities.
Holmes had argued that while figures like Clarkson and Morgan 'bring the ratings' and are 'relevant', risk-averse executives shy away from them for fear of causing offence. 'That's what the viewers want,' he insisted. 'But a lot of executives don't want to take the risk on that.'
Contradictions in the Argument
Observers were quick to point out a significant flaw in Holmes's argument. Many of the presenters he claimed are being sidelined by the industry remain highly active on mainstream channels.
Jeremy Clarkson currently fronts the hit Amazon Prime series Clarkson's Farm and hosts Who Wants To Be A Millionaire? on ITV. Piers Morgan is a regular guest on ITV's daytime talk shows, and his programme Piers Morgan Uncensored is broadcast on TalkTV with weekly highlights on Channel 5. Jeremy Kyle also hosts his own show on TalkTV.
This apparent contradiction between Holmes's claims and the visible employment of these personalities added fuel to the debate, highlighting the ongoing tension within the media industry about cancel culture, free speech, and changing audience expectations.
The clash underscores a deeper cultural divide in British broadcasting, pitting traditional views on provocative presentation against modern sensitivities and corporate risk management.
