Susanna Reid, the presenter of Good Morning Britain, is well-known for her cutting interviews, but she has given a caution about a popular video.
In the video, the 53-year-old questions a ‘MP’ about the treatment of sub Postmasters following the Mr Bates vs the Post Office triumph.
The ITV drama starring Toby Jones has witnessed an extraordinary public demand for change, with Paula Vennells returning her CBE.
Susanna grills her guest and asked: ‘How come the government didn’t notice you were asleep on duty, weren’t you?’
‘Well no Susanna, I don’t think that’s fair,’ comes the MP’s response before launching into her excuses about the fact that before now there hasn’t been a Toby Jones drama about it.
‘Always double check who Rosie Holt is before you reply!’ Susanna wrote as she shared the clip on X.
MP blames Toby Jones & ITV for not making #PostOfficeScandal drama sooner. pic.twitter.com/rPrBrSTDVH
— Rosie Holt (@RosieisaHolt) January 9, 2024
Rosie Holt had been the original poster of the interview with the caption: ‘MP blames Toby Jones & ITV for not making #PostOfficeScandal drama sooner.’
It turns out that Rosie is a comedian and performer who frequently does skits, such as this one with Susanna.
The green screen cut is seen in Susanna’s interview with Mel Stride, the current Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.
In the comedy clip, Rosie replied: ‘I mean you have to understand, that before this week. Not one drama starring Toby Jones had been made on the subject. Not one.
‘That to me shows a lack of duty of care. Toby Jones is a very fine actor but what was he doing? I understand the Detectorists was very good but who was that helping?
‘What I want to know is why it took so long for ITV to make this drama. There’s been many miscarriages of justice.’
She went on to reference tweets about Afghanistan directed at the government and declared: ‘The government can’t do anything … everything.’
‘We can watch dramas, and we will watch dramas – especially if they’re starring Toby Jones,’ concluded Rosie’s fake MP.
In the response to Susanna’s tweet Rosie teased that she was ‘a hard working and well respected MP.’
Carol Vorderman was also in on the joke and tweeted: ‘It’s a very funny sketch 😂.’
Unfortunately there was a slew of replies calling Rosie a ‘pathetic excuse for a minister’ for her ‘very embarrassing and nonsensical interview.’
‘You really couldn’t make this up , blaming Toby Jones !!!! You’ve totally misjudged the public’s feelings about all of this. There are a lot of people to blame ,but actors are definitely not!,’ said a furious Louise Smith.
One helpful commenter, Neil McIntosh, tweeted: ‘You know this is a parody right?’ to which Rosie feigned innocence.
Community notes, which provide facts in reaction to a tweet, were also added to the article to help clear up any doubt about the satirical comedy.
The Metropolitan Police have confirmed that the Post Office is under criminal investigation following the publication of the ITV drama. The public inquiry into the incident is underway.
Scotland Yard said that officers were ‘investigating potential fraud offences arising out of these prosecutions’, for example, ‘monies recovered from sub-postmasters as a result of prosecutions or civil actions’.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV.
