Viewers tuning into Good Morning Britain expressed surprise when a popular This Morning regular made his first appearance on the show. Hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls covered the top stories from the program’s new central London studio on Tuesday, March 24. They welcomed regular contributor Kevin Maguire alongside newcomer Tom Swarbrick, the English radio talk show host known for his frequent spots on This Morning‘s Morning View segment.
Fantastic First Impression
At the close of the discussion, Susanna Reid commended Tom, stating: “Thank you both very much indeed. Tom, a fantastic debut. [We] never would have known you only had 11 minutes sleep.” Tom responded lightheartedly: “Is it still before 7 o’clock? I can’t quite believe it’s before seven o’clock.”
Viewer Confusion and Feedback
Many viewers quickly recognized Tom from his This Morning appearances, leading to puzzled reactions on X (formerly Twitter). One user asked: “Is that Tom Swarbrick?” Another wondered: “That’s not Tom Swarbrick, is it?” A third noted: “Wait, that’s the guy from This Morning,” while a fourth questioned: “Where did they find this guy alongside Kevin?”
Some fans voiced frustration over the hosts interrupting the pundits. One commented: “I don’t think they’ve allowed a single point to land on #GMB this morning. They’re cutting off the pundits before they can finish their points EVERY SINGLE TIME.”
Veterinary Bills in Focus
The panel also addressed rising veterinary costs ahead of the Competition and Markets Authority’s final report on the UK’s £6.3 billion veterinary services sector. Tom shared insights from his own experience: “We have three cats, two axolotls, and now we have a very new puppy – that’s Olive.” He added: “The vets fees are astonishing. We lost our dog in January. I thought we could be a household without a dog for a lot longer. Turns out, we can’t – we’re a dog household. But the vet bills have just gone [up], and they don’t tell you in advance what it is that you’re going to be paying.”
Tom Swarbrick’s Career Highlights
Beyond television, Tom hosts the drivetime show on LBC radio. He previously served as Head of Broadcast at Downing Street from 2016 to 2018 and advised Prime Minister Theresa May.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX starting at 6am.
