Hello Great Britain host Ed Balls had to “not participate” in an interview with his wife Yvette Cooperafter triggering immense backlash last time.

The former politician interviewed the interior minister in August alongside ITV co-host Kate Garraway.

However, viewers were outraged by the segment, wondering if the fact that they were married had any impact on the interview.

In total, Good Morning Britain received a total of 16,783 complaints to Ofcom about Balls interviewing Cooper and more his comments to Labor MP Zarah Sultana following Islamophobic and racist comments riots in the United Kingdom.

Many have argued that Balls, 57, would be unable to remain impartial and that it would be a “conflict of interest” to remain on the ITV program while his wife was a member of the cabinet.

He has now pulled out of another interview, before risking similar outrage.

Ahead of Cooper’s interview on today’s programme, Balls said he would “stay aside”, with Susanna Reid questioning the politician alone.

Balls later announced he was taking a break from the show, having joined the rotating roster three years ago, with Richard Madeley, Adil Ray And Robert Rinderfollowing the departure of Pier Morgan.

He announced his summer vacation on August 13, a week after causing outrage over the interview, saying: “What better way to celebrate the start of the summer vacation than with a pavlova – our favorite from the family – I loved working with Kate last week during these turbulent national times. I’m back with Susanna at the start of September, as schools and Parliament return.

Balls and Cooper, 55, married in 1998before Balls was a member of Tony Blair’s cabinet as Treasury Secretary, and they have three children together.

Balls was unseated in the 2015 election and retired from politics to pursue presenting and other projects, and took part in Strictly Come Dancing the following year.

This is Cooper’s first time in government in 14 years, having been in opposition when the Conservatives were in power.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1.

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