Speaking to Sky News, Morgan has said that he has “fall[en] on his sword” and condemned the “damage” Markle has done to the British monarchy as “frankly contemptible”.

“If people want to believe Meghan Markle, that’s entirely their right,” said the presenter.

He continued: “I don’t believe almost anything that comes out of her mouth. I think the damage she has done to the British monarchy, to the Queen at a time when Prince Philip is enormous and frankly contemptible.

“So if I have to fall on my sword for expressing an honestly held opinion about Meghan Markle and that diatribe of bilge that she came out with in that interview, so be it.”

Yesterday evening (9 March), it was revealed that broadcasting regulator Ofcom had received more than 41,000 complaints about Morgan’s behaviour.

An investigation will be launched into whether his comments broke the UK broadcasting code in regards to harm and offence.

US late night talk show host Stephen Colbert has celebrated Morgan’s departure from ITV.

“Tomorrow’s going to be a great morning, Britain,” quipped the presenter in the opening segment of The Late Show last night (9 March).

Referring to Markle’s revelation during the recent Oprah Winfrey interview that there were “concerns” raised during her pregnancy about “how dark” the baby’s skin might be, Colbert added: “Piers is such a baby that someone at Buckingham Palace just asked what colour he is gonna be.”

Morgan has spoken to Sky News, saying that he doesn’t believe he went “too far” with his comments about Meghan.

“If people think it’s over for me, it’s not, I’ll be back,” he told the network, adding that he was “in talks” regarding his presenting future.

However, viewers are celebrating seeing two women, Susanna Reid and Ranvir Singh, present GMB.

Many are calling for Singh, who is the show’s political editor, to permanently replace Morgan.

Sharon Osbourne is among the stars supporting Morgan following his departure from Good Morning Britain.

“I am with you. I stand by you,” she wrote. “People forget that you’re paid for your opinion and you’re just speaking your truth.”

Gary Lineker has also posted in support for the presenter.

Lorraine Kelly has made an appearance, joking that it will be “a lot quieter and a lot calmer” without Morgan around, but that the presenter will be missed.

She also said that the presenter had been a “very loyal friend” to him.

“Cry not for @piersmorgan – there are plenty of bridges for him to find work under,” he tweeted, signing off: “Sincerely, the ‘jumped up twerp’.”

However, another Suits actor, Wendell Pierce, has criticised the interview and called it “irrelevant”. Read his full comments here.

Morgan has tweeted for the first time since his departure this morning, saying that he still doesn’t believe Meghan Markle’s comments as he shared a Winston Churchill quote about free speech on Twitter.

“It’s a very different programme this morning,” Reid told the audience, with Singh asking the presenter how she felt this morning.

“His departure is one of the reverberations that has come from this interview, Harry and Meghan,” Reid replied.

Susanna Reid says “the show must go on” without Morgan.

The pair had presented the show together for more than five years.

Morgan’s departure is being discussed on the show right now, with guests saying that the presenter “isn’t always right” and could have been a lot “more sensitive” when discussing Meghan’s mental health.

“We’ll never forget you, Piers Morgan,” former Daily Mirror associate editor Kevin Maguire said, praising Morgan for his work holding the government to account over the coronavirus crisis.

However, Maguire said that Morgan “got it wrong” regarding Meghan and discussions about race.

This morning’s show is being presented by Susanna Reid and Ranvir Singh.

Reid opened the show by addressing Morgan’s departure, calling him an ‘outspoken, challenging, opinionated, disruptive broadcaster’.

Read her full speech here.

Morning all, we will be live blogging Good Morning Britain today following Piers Morgan’s surprise departure from the show. Be sure to tune in for updates!