Adil Ray has faced a barrage of complaints from furious ITV viewers for his line of questioning to a WWII veteran during Friday’s Good Morning Britain.
Alongside Kate Garraway, the presenter welcomed former Navy serviceman Alec Penstone onto the programme to discuss his memories of the war and why, at 100 years old, he continues to sell poppies for the Royal British Legion.
Mr Penstone was just 15 when he volunteered to help move the dead and injured during the Blitz, and just two years later, at 17, he joined the Navy, where he went on to serve in the Arctic convoys.
Kicking off the discussion, Mr Ray began by describing meeting Mr Penstone as an “honour”, before the WWII veteran humbly replied: “Very, very nice to meet you all. I can’t see anything that I’ve done especially that wouldn’t have been done by other people of my generation.”
ITV GMB: Alec Penstone
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The centurion added he was “just one of the lucky ones” as he was “still alive”, but Ms Garraway wasn’t going to let his humility win over.
“Well, you are extraordinary,” she interjected. “And it’s typical of your generation, Alec, that you dismiss what you did.”
Ms Garraway then asked Mr Penstone about the “pivotal role” his vessel played in the D-Day landing during the war, something Mr Penstone was able to recall perfectly clearly.
“Well, actually, what happened was, I had just come back from a convoy to Russia… And our captain and his wife had already rented a place over the other side of the bay,” he recalled.
ITV GMB: Kate Garraway
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“And he asked me to take him over there in what we called the skimming dish, which I was coxswain of. And at about seven o’clock— sorry, five o’clock in the afternoon, he came down and said, ‘Right, coxswain, over to the left of the house.’
“So I went over there and I dropped him off on the jetty. And I heard him greet his wife at the top. And he said, ‘Right, seven o’clock tomorrow morning, coxswain.’
“‘Aye, aye, sir.’ And I came back to the ship to have my tea. I went down to my mess. I’m just going to sit and have some sardines on toast.
“All of a sudden, I got called away to go to the gangway. ‘Duty coxswain reports to the gangway at the double!’ I went to the gangway and I was told to go and pick the captain up.”
ITV GMB: Adil Ray
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Little did Mr Penstone know at the time that he was about to set sail to take part in the D-Day landings, and play such an integral war in Britain’s victory.
As the conversation moved on, Mr Penstone also paid tribute to his father, who had served in World War I, and the sacrifices he made in the name of his country.
But before wrapping up the conversation, Ms Garraway asked Mr Penstone: “What does Remembrance Sunday mean for you? What is your message?”
Mr Penstone took a more sombre tone as he candidly replied: “My message is, I can see in my mind’s eye the rows and rows of white stones of all the hundreds of my friends and everybody else that gave their lives for what?
ITV GMB: Adil Ray and Kate Garraway both thanked Alec for his service
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“The country of today. No, I’m sorry, the sacrifice wasn’t worth the result that it is now.”
As Ms Garraway offered a sympathetic response to Mr Penstone’s point of view, Mr Ray interjected for the first time during the discussion and attempted to press him to expand on his point.
“What do you mean by that, though?” the GMB host probed, prompting the WWII veteran to reply: “What we fought for, and what we fought for was our freedom.
“We find that even now it’s downright worse than when I fought for it.”
ITV GMB: Adil Ray and Kate Garraway both shook Alec’s hand
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Ms Garraway intervened to bring the discussion to a close before Mr Penstone could face any further questions from Mr Ray. “Oh, Alec, I’m sorry you feel like that,” she said.
The GMB host went on: “I want you to know that all the generations that have come since, including me and my children, are so grateful for your bravery and all that for service personnel,” she said as she planted a hand on his shoulder.
Mr Ray nodded in agreement while his co-host continued: “And it’s our job now, isn’t it, to make it the country that you fought for — you absolutely fought for.”
Mr Penstone replied: “It’s so wonderful to know there are people like you who can spread the word around. The younger generation.”
ITV GMB: Alec Penstone said the sacrifice wasn’t worth it for the state of the country today
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Ms Garraway said: “And I guarantee that everybody watching at home will be wanting you to send lots of love.”
Before bidding Mr Penstone farewell, Mr Ray and Ms Garraway revealed that they had a surprise from the D-Day Darlings, who left the WWII veteran shocked by handing him a signed copy of their album as they joined him on the sofa to sing his praises.
The GMB hosts thanked Mr Penstone once more, with Mr Ray signing off while shaking the veteran’s hand: “Alec, thank you very much.
“I know what you’re saying, and we’ve got lots to learn, but we wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you and your comrades. Thank you.”
Following the interview, GMB viewers flocked to social media to share their thoughts on Mr Penstone’s actions and bravery, with many applauding him for his service.
However, despite his gratitude towards Mr Penstone at the end of the chat, several took issue with Mr Ray seemingly trying to goad the WWII veteran into contentious ground with his questioning.
“Adil desperately fishing for the old chap to say something he can then twist as racist #gmb,” one X user suggested after watching the discussion, while a second echoed: “How disgusting is Adil Ray!!! Poor Alec said the war wasn’t worth it due to the state of the country today!! Ray, knowing full well what he meant, but had to question him!!!!! He is a disgrace.”
“Adil wants to rage bait a 100-year-old. Unbelievable #gmb,” a third fumed while a fourth similarly added: “Well said, Alec, and thank you for your service. Adil, you’re a disgrace #GMB.”
ITV GMB: Alec Penstone told stories of the war
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And another agreed: “Maybe you should ask the old gentleman what he thinks about Adil’s glorification and support for Sharia law to be accepted in the West. After everything this man has fought for. How insulting to have him on air today after his comments. #GMB.”
Among the complaints were plenty of others who focussed their attention on lauding Mr Penstone’s bravery. “Bless him! Give that gentleman as much airtime as he wants! Let him keep chatting! #GMB @GMB,” one fan said.
While a second commented: “Never felt more shame than listening to the 100-year-old veteran on #GMB brought a tear to my eye. This is what should be on the front page of every newspaper!” (sic)
And despite the furore, there were still some who jumped to Mr Ray’s defence and welcomed his appearance on the show after taking over from Ed Balls for the Friday slot.
“Adil Ray should be on all week. Far better than Ed Balls,” one supporter waded into the online row.