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Eamonn Holmes snaps at child behavioural expert during heated debate on GMB

We would not want to get on the wrong side of him!

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It’s safe to say Eamonn Holmes is taking over Piers Morgan’s role on Good Morning Britain pretty well already.

The Irish presenter found himself in a fiery spat with a guest during today’s show during an argument about whether children under 14 should be left home alone.

Lorrine Marer, a child behavioural expert, joined Eamonn and Charlotte Hawkins to discuss the controversial topic.

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Lorrine revealed she believes there should be a law put in place stating what age a child still needs supervision.

Meanwhile mum Kerry Davies was on the show too to explain why she chooses to leave her 10-year-old son at home by himself.

Lorrine told the hosts: “My belief is a child’s brain hasn’t matured sufficiently to be able to make conscious decisions.

“Another thing that bothers me is that children have their faces into an iPad or a laptop – screens screens screens – absolutely wrong.”

But Eamonn, 57, strongly disagreed with her comments. He said: “It might be wrong but that’s life.

“Where I strongly disagree with you is that I remember when I was ten I thought I could rule the world,” before Lorrine interrupted asking: “But how many years ago was that Eamonn?”

Eamonn hit back saying: “47 years ago and I remember it distinctively.

“Now listen at ten I would spend all day watching Scooby Doo and eating sugar puffs and would have been happy that no one was bothering me.

“What is your problem? Surely what we’re doing is wrapping children up in cotton wool.

“[Children] are shaving at 14. A lot of them are parents at 14. What are you talking about?

“A lot of them are watching Love Island at 14.”

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Lorrine can be heard mumbling: “I hope not!”

The This Morning presenter then jumped in and added: “Course they are! What world do you live in?

“Maybe the person that is out of touch is you.”

Kerry seemed to agree with Eamonn’s comments as she said: “Each child is different. By putting a law in place you’re actually taking parental responsibility away from parents.

“It’s my judgement call as a parent.

“Although my 10-year-old son is alone, he’s not really because his grandparents are round the corner, I’m on the phone to him all the time, I have CCTV on my phone so I can check on him at any point in the day and there’s Skype and FaceTime.

“It does come down to the child. I am teaching my son to be responsible and I’m teaching him to be independent.”

Eamonn is currently hosting the early-morning talk show while Piers and co-star Susanna Reid are enjoying some time off over the summer.

The star will host up to Wednesday 2 August and then the show will be taken over by Ben Shephard and Kate Garraway.

Jeremy Kyle will also be hosting the show for a few weeks during this month.


Rebecca Carter
Associate Editor (News)

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