Good Morning Britain viewers shocked at ‘shouting match’ over diamond

Viewers thought the debate about the diamond got a bit out of control

Julia Hunt

·Contributor

Thu, 16 February 2023 at 4:42 pm GMT

Good Morning Britain viewers told of their shock after a debate between two guests turned into a “shouting match”.

Former Big Brother contestant Narinder Kaur and GB News journalist Emma Webb were on the ITV show to talk about the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond in the Crown Jewels, and news that Queen Consort Camilla will not be wearing it to the Coronation.

The jewel is thought to have been seized by the East India Company in Punjab in the 1800s and its ownership has since been disputed.

As they debated the issue, Webb suggested that the diamond should not be returned to its geographical origins, pointing out how “complex” history was.

However, Kaur repeatedly mentioned colonisation, saying that it “represents colonisation and bloodshed”.

“Give it back to India,” she said.

Things quickly got heated, with Kaur raising her voice and Webb asking her: “Let me finish my point please.”

Presenter Ed Balls admitted he felt “exhausted” by the debate and viewers were gobsmacked.

“Presenters should have taken more control,” said one person on Twitter, adding that the noise level meant that they didn’t get to hear either point of view properly.

Another tweeted: “Unbearable TV this morning!! Had to turn off – sort it out.”

Somebody else said it was “absolutely shocking” and that they had a “huge headache” from all the shouting.

“Shouting over everybody is not a good debate,” said another viewer, as one complained: “My head hurts listening to these two shouting at each other.”

One tweeted: “GMB debate, I think not. More like an absolute shouting match.”

After the show aired, Kaur shared a clip on Twitter and wrote: “The kohinoor diamond was founded in Indian soil. It represents to the British their dark brutal colonial history.

“They have NO BUSINESS in continuing to benefit from colonisation. The UN recognises the right of a country to reclaim its treasures.”