This morning... it’ll all get a bit hands-on
IT might be an important public health matter, but it hardly makes for easy earlymorning viewing.
So more than a few This Morning viewers were left spluttering into their tea yesterday when a woman disrobed on their screens.
The show included a segment on breast cancer checks, which saw a topless female volunteer have her breast examined.
The programme’s Dr Chris Steele, 69, performed the check-up while being questioned on what signs people should be looking for by presenter Amanda Holden, 44.
Not all viewers thought it was tasteful to broadcast nudity shortly after 11am. Some also questioned whether a female doctor would have been more appropriate.
One wrote on Twitter: ‘Couldn’t they have got a female doctor to do this?’ However, others praised the programme, with a viewer posting: ‘It’s a shame how immaturely people react to a segment aimed at potentially saving lives. Good on This Morning!’
Yesterday co-host Phillip Schofield was keen to defend the segment, saying: ‘The thing that makes me most proud about This Morning are the moments when you feel like you’ve genuinely made a difference. The breast cancer awareness section of the show was exactly what This Morning does best.’
An ITV spokesman added: ‘The breast cancer check item was a topic This Morning has featured several times before. The aim of all health check items is to inform and share important lifesaving techniques with our viewers. Warnings were given prior to the item for those that did not want to watch.’
Neither Ofcom nor ITV have received any complaints about the breast check. Last month the watchdog cleared This Morning after a risque segment about bondage filmed for the release of the film Fifty Shades of Grey sparked 120 complaints. The show has also previously shown people having smear tests, vasectomies and rectal exams.