Chris Packham praised for 'calling out patronising' Richard Madeley on GMB
Richard Madeley has been criticised as 'patronising' after conducting a tense interview on Monday's episode of Good Morning Britain.
The TV presenter was joined by Chris Packham on the ITV breakfast show earlier today to discuss the subject of the climate crisis, ahead of the release of the English naturalist's BBC One documentary about the planet's incredible past and its uncertain future.
When initially questioned by Madeley's co-host, Susannah Reid, on the 'dramatic' nature of the upcoming five-part series, simply called Earth, the 62-year-old explained that the programme is simply "presenting the science."
"We are sleepwalking towards an apocalypse...but we have a choice," Packham continued, appearing via video link from Southampton. "We're not disempowering people by frightening them. We're saying, 'Wake up and act. Because we can still avert complete catrasophe'."
Chris Packham appeared on Good Morning Britain on and fans applauded him after his brief appearance (ITV)Madley then jumped in to ask Packham about his stance on Just Stop Oil, an environmental group which uses nonviolent disruptive tactics to stop the UK government from licensing all new oil, gas and coal projects.
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"I'm a bit confused. I read that you now think that their tactics, such as showering things with orange powder and paint, and walking very slowly and disrupting traffic and trying to stop the London rush hour for today and for the rest of the week, you know think are counter-productive," the 67-year-old said. "Is that true?"
Packham rejected this claim, however, clarifying that it was a "misquote" by the "daily fail." He then explained that he supports Just Stop Oil's methods for protesting fossil fuels, as long as it's "peaceful" and "nobody is being harmed."
"In this country, we’ve pretty much-eliminated coal fire energy,” Madeley challenged. “We’re investing squillions in wind power. Our CO2 emissions, by general agreement, are now per capita, are at their lowest in the UK since the mid-1850s but China is burning more and more coal."
Richard Madeley has been called 'patronising' by some GMB viewers over the interview (ITV)He then asked Packham why climate activists in the UK were "preaching to the converted" instead of demonstrating outside the Chinese embassy.
"Two points there. I think you’re wrong, with respect, about the achievements that we’re seeing in the UK. The climate change committee have said we’re not meeting any of our targets," the conservationist replied. "We’re talking about opening a new coal mine in Cumbria and we’re still granting licenses to explore for more oil and gas.”
Packham, who has written several books on environmental issues, then put forward his second point.
"Valid question: are they targeting the right people? That’s the question I’m asking them for a forthcoming documentary for Channel 4," he said.
The tense exchange between Madeley and Packham didn't go unnoticed by viewers, many of whom took to social media to share their support for the wildlife expert.
"Richard Madeley was highly patronising with his introduction of Chris Packham," one person wrote. "Well done Chris for calling out the [publication] on twisting what you said. Madeley can learn a lot from Chris and needs to engage both ears and remember he has only 1 mouth for a reason."
This viewpoint was echoed by another unimpressed viewer, who suggested that Madeley and Reid were failing to make the connection between the climate crisis and the heatwave currently spreading across Europe.
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"Love the way #GMB take their time telling Chris Packham how pointless the Just Stop Oil protests are and then jump straight into a piece on how record temperatures and wild fires are causing chaos and death across the globe," they tweeted.
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