Piers Morgan — British broadcaster and opinion journalist; former newspaper editor (The Sun's News of the World, The Mirror) and TV presenter (CNN, Good Morning Britain), launching his new show Piers Morgan Uncensored for Rupert Murdoch.
The gist
Piers Morgan traces how a childhood news obsession, a privileged prep school followed by a rough comprehensive, and strong family women shaped a fearless, self-confident opinion broadcaster. He argues society conflates normal life struggles with mental illness, championing resilience over what he calls wallowing in self-pity and victimhood. He frames cancel culture and modern 'wokism' as a form of fascism he wants to defeat with his new global show. Morgan revisits his explosive career exits, his belief that failure teaches more than success, and his unresolved, bitter conflict with Meghan Markle, who he says cost him his Good Morning Britain job. He closes optimistic and unrepentant, insisting on his right to an opinion.
Big reveals
- Morgan links his fame ambition to childhood, being the only Black kid in an all-white school, called the n-word, and relaxing his hair to fit in.
- On his first day at a local comprehensive, the school's skinhead punched him in the face; bullying stopped only when his brother joined and fought back.
- He celebrates Tiger Woods as a 'freak of mental strength' and criticizes high-level athletes who quit, sparking the show's mental-health debate.
- Morgan says he would make up with Meghan Markle if she sat for a real interview, then lists pointed questions about her hypocrisy and racism claims.
- He claims at least 17 statements Meghan Markle made in her Oprah interview were false.
- A troll made a specific death threat against his eldest son, ex-wife and himself on Instagram; over a year later it still hadn't reached court.
- Morgan reveals he had long Covid for six to seven months after the Delta variant, losing taste, smell and energy, which he found depressing.
- He launches Piers Morgan Uncensored, a daily show airing simultaneously in the UK, US and Australia, returning to mentor Rupert Murdoch.
Things worth remembering
- As a child Morgan practiced his autograph and wrote to world leaders, keeping reply letters from Margaret Thatcher, Ted Heath and cricketer Donald Bradman.
- Rupert Murdoch made Morgan editor of News of the World at age 28.
- His favorite poem on resilience is D.H. Lawrence's 'Self-Pity', about a wild thing never feeling sorry for itself.
- Roger Bannister told Morgan his motivational quote was the African bush proverb about the lion and the gazelle both having to run when the sun comes up.
- Morgan cites Mars confectioners celebrating failed chocolate bars more than successful ones because they learned more from failure.
- After his Good Morning Britain exit, Sharon Osbourne defended his right to an opinion and lost her job on The Talk over it.
- Morgan did roughly 1200 prime-time shows on CNN over nearly four years after replacing Larry King.
- He keeps a WhatsApp group with his sons where they argue and frequently disagree with him.
- During the Good Morning Britain backlash, his sons were abused online by people who had 'be kind' hashtags in their bios.