Pectorals

Piers Morgan's negotiating style at GMB is revealed in a new Radio Times interview, conducted by Emily Maitlis.

"I actually quit in the summer. I said, 'I'm out,' because I couldn't do it any more. Then we came to a new arrangement, which is great. I feel completely different."

Before the new deal, he was arriving at the ITV South Bank studios at 4am three days a week. Now he's allowed to bowl up at 5.30pm. Co-host Susanna Reid is still required to come in earlier - Piers believes this is to do with hair and make-up.

"It takes them longer [to get ready] because they get more attention and pressure on how they look, how their hair is and everything else. I'm lucky. Five minutes of slap and on I go. I said, 'Does anyone really care if I come in at 5.30 and we just have a catch-up on the phone?' Which is what we now do."
So now, presumably, someone else writes all the links he mangles....

• Last year, Emily was on less that £150k from the BBC; it's believed she now has a new deal at over £200k. As well as this Radio Times work, she recently penned a feature for The Times about meeting The Chippendales in Las Vegas, a insight shared with readers of The Sun. It was based on a Newsnight report, prompted by a challenge to Emily from Piers Morgan. Which sort of shows you how Newsnight reaches big editorial decisions.