ITV’s This Morning took an unexpected turn when a scheduled celebrity guest mysteriously disappeared, leaving hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary scrambling to fill the gap.
The live broadcast quickly descended into chaos, but in true showbiz style, another guest swooped in to save the moment.
Billy Porter’s Sudden Exit
The drama unfolded during a segment featuring award-winning actor and singer Billy Porter.
The Pose star had joined Alison and Dermot on the famous sofa to chat about his role in the West End production of Cabaret.
At the end of his interview, Billy assured the hosts he would stay on set to taste chef Rustie Lee’s highly anticipated jerk chicken dish.
However, when the cameras returned for the cooking segment, Billy was nowhere to be seen.
The hosts carried on with the show, but his absence didn’t go unnoticed by viewers, many of whom took to social media to question why he had vanished so suddenly. One person humorously commented on X (formerly Twitter), “‘I will definitely stay for jerk chicken’ #ThisMorning,” alongside a GIF that read, “No, I won’t.”
Lulu Steps In to Save the Segment
With Billy Porter missing in action, the show faced an awkward situation—until Scottish singing legend Lulu unexpectedly joined the segment. The 75-year-old singer had been scheduled to appear later in the show to discuss her new podcast but couldn’t resist jumping in when she heard jerk chicken was on the menu.
Shouting from off-stage, Lulu excitedly exclaimed, “I want to go on a journey with you!” before rushing onto the set. Alison and Dermot warmly welcomed her, relieved to have a stand-in for Billy. The Shout singer playfully justified her impromptu appearance, saying, “They told me they were making jerk chicken, and I said, ‘Can I go on?’ If she’s making it, it’s got to be good.”
Fans React to the Chaos
Viewers watching at home were quick to react to the unexpected switch-up. While some found Billy Porter’s disappearance puzzling, many enjoyed Lulu’s enthusiasm and spontaneity. Social media was flooded with comments about the hilarious moment, with one fan joking, “Lulu gatecrashing the cooking segment because of jerk chicken is the energy I aspire to have in life.” Another quipped, “Billy Porter ghosting This Morning but Lulu swooping in like a pro? Absolute chaos.”
Despite the behind-the-scenes confusion, Alison and Dermot handled the situation like seasoned professionals, laughing along with the audience as the show continued.
No Explanation for Billy’s Departure
As of now, there has been no official explanation for Billy Porter’s sudden exit. Given that the show is filmed live, it’s possible that he had another commitment or an urgent reason for leaving. However, his absence remains a mystery, and fans are left wondering why he didn’t follow through with his promise to sample Rustie Lee’s cooking.
A Morning of Unpredictability
Earlier in the day, ITV’s Good Morning Britain also experienced a tense moment when host Rob Rinder grilled Captain Tom Moore’s daughter, Hannah Ingram-Moore, about allegations of financial misconduct involving her father’s charity. It seems live television was particularly eventful, with both morning shows delivering unexpected drama.
For This Morning, what could have been an awkward situation turned into an entertaining segment thanks to Lulu’s quick thinking and natural charisma. While Billy Porter’s unexplained absence remains a talking point, the impromptu moment added to the unpredictability that makes live TV so compelling.
One thing’s for sure—whether planned or not, This Morning continues to keep audiences entertained, proving that sometimes, the best television moments come from pure spontaneity.
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