Good Morning Britain was not in breach of the broadcasting code over Piers Morgan’s controversial comments about the Duchess of Sussex, Ofcom has said.

The regulator had received more than 50,000 complaints about the programme in March, including from the Duchess of Sussex herself, which focused on Harry and Meghan’s interview with Oprah Winfrey.

Although Ofcom said Morgan’s statements about suicide and mental health had the potential to be highly offensive, it has concluded that the show “contained sufficient challenge to provide adequate protection and context to viewers”.

BREAKING: ⁦@Ofcom⁩ rejects all complaints against me over Meghan Markle furore that led to my exit from ⁦@GMB⁩. Verdict says I was entitled to disbelieve her & Prince Harry & to restrict my right to do so would be a ‘chilling restriction on freedom of expression.’ 👇 pic.twitter.com/m040VOTbKi

An Ofcom spokesman said: “This was a finely-balanced decision. Mr Morgan’s comments were potentially harmful and offensive to viewers, and we recognise the strong public reaction to them.

“But we also took full account of freedom of expression. Under our rules, broadcasters can include controversial opinions as part of legitimate debate in the public interest, and the strong challenge to Mr Morgan from other contributors provided important context for viewers.

“Nonetheless, we’ve reminded ITV to take greater care around content discussing mental health and suicide in future. ITV might consider the use of timely warnings or signposting of support services to ensure viewers are properly protected.”

It became Ofcom’s most complained about TV moment at the time, with 54,000 people expressing their opposition to the show.

Morgan, who has since left the flagship morning show, called the ruling a “victory”, tweeting: “I’m delighted Ofcom has endorsed my right to disbelieve the Duke & Duchess of Sussex’s incendiary claims to Oprah Winfrey, many of which have proven to be untrue.

“This is a resounding victory for free speech and a resounding defeat for Princess Pinocchios. Do I get my job back?”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

Writing in a hastily published column on MailOnline, Morgan added: “Make no mistake, this is a watershed moment in the battle for free speech.

“If Ofcom had found against me, that would have signalled the end of every UK TV journalist’s right to express any honestly held opinion on air lest it upset the likes of Meghan Markle.

“The whole point of journalism is surely to question and challenge statements from public figures, particularly when no actual evidence is produced to support them?”

After leaving Good Morning Britain, Morgan told Sky News he did not believe the Duchess Of Sussex’s “diatribe of bilge”.

He said: “I think the damage she’s done to the British monarchy and to the Queen at a time when Prince Philip is lying in hospital (the comments were made before his death) is enormous and frankly contemptible.

“If I have to fall on my sword for expressing an honestly-held opinion about Meghan Markle and that diatribe of bilge that she came out with in that interview, so be it.

“I think it’s fair to say, although the woke crowd will think that they’ve cancelled me, I think they will be rather disappointed when I re-emerge.”

Related posts:

Australian act to perform in Eurovision from home due to COVID travel restrictions Cher calls on Britney Spears’ father to stand down from conservator role Russell Crowe reveals he will play Zeus in the next Thor film Johnny Depp’s US defamation lawsuit should be thrown out after UK ruling, Amber Heard says Broadcasters that hired Martin Bashir may have ‘looked the other way’, ex-ITN boss says Seth Rogen tells UK breakfast TV he smokes cannabis ‘all day every day’ James Bond, Back To The Future and Star Wars memorabilia in £5.5m movie props auction Court set to rule on ending Britney Spears’ father’s control of her life Jimmy Carr says revisiting his mother’s death inspired him to write autobiography Married At First Sight series finale gets new air date after E4 broadcast repeat episode Chart-topping rapper jailed for importing cannabis into UK ‘It’s not okay to use harmful stereotypes’: Little Mix criticise ‘blackfishing’ after Jesy Nelson music video backlash