Controversial, yes, but I thought Piers Morgan was alright | Cheryl Gibbs

He was the reason I tuned in, and having a newborn at the time it was also quite nice to tune my brain back into journalism and current affair issues for a few hours of the day.

There’s no doubt about it though – Piers is definitely Marmite, you either love him or hate him, but I’m the former.

I don’t agree with a lot that comes out of his mouth and I think he lets himself down by being controversial for controversy’s sake, which is his biggest flaw.

Nonetheless his reporting last year, especially holding government figures accountable and posing hard questions when others would fluff around the question, was admirable and reflective of genuine journalism.

I was gutted when ITV fired him over the comments he made about Meghan Markle last year.

Did he go too far? Yes, I think he did.

Would some people be offended by his comments? Probably.

But were his comments racially motivated or otherwise? No in my opinion. And it would seem that Ofcom; the regulatory body for TV and media agrees.

Despite receiving thousands of complaints about his reporting over the Harry and Meghan fiasco (remember when they did the ‘tell all’ interview with Oprah?) they’ve declared that after careful investigation they believe he was simply doing his job and I’m pleased for him.

I can see why people don’t like him, but a lot of people don’t like those who speak openly about issues that are often seen as confronting or controversial

I think it was ITV’s biggest mistake to take him off the show – it’s never been anywhere near what it was since his departure.

The moment the powers-that-be take away those with voices, regardless of their opinion, especially on a topical news debate show where it’s the journalists’ job to be confronting will be the end of the free press and detrimental to us all overall.

You may not like Piers but he has my respect for staying true to his opinions regardless of ratings or outcomes.

Apologies to anyone who saw my back-to-front swimming

I went swimming this week and I was running so late for the allocated time slot you get now (gone are the days when you can just turn up and go freestyle) that by the time I got in the pool I had 22 minutes to achieve my 30 lengths – not long enough.

I was rushing so quickly in the changing rooms that I ended up putting on my swimming costume back to front.

I recall feeling a bit concerned as to why it felt so snug (I wasn’t that naughty over the bank holiday) and it wasn’t until I got a couple of side glances from some other swimmers as I made my way to the lane that I realised my faux pas.

How embarrassing, especially as the back has a low curve which was now at the front barely covering me.

I didn’t know whether to carry on swimming and just get the lengths done but then I remembered that a lot of people wear goggles to swim under water and god knows what they might have seen – I made a swift exit. It wasn’t my finest moment.

The first report is in, and Harley is definitely mummy’s girl

I had an email this week from Harley’s nursery called ‘Parents’ Evening’, and I was beside myself at the subject.

How on earth do I have a child old enough to get an email about a parents’ evening?

Admittedly it was an invitation to a virtual one, aka a phone call about Harley’s progress, but I was so excited.

I also realised there was her first ‘school report’ (again, not really, but bear with me, I’m just excited) on the nursery app and it details where she’s at in her development.

I’m pleased and relieved that they feel she’s where she needs to be for her age and commented how bubbly and happy she is, always babbling away to anyone who will listen.

That’s what my reports used to always say too: ‘Cheryl’s a pleasure to have around, but if only she’d talk less….’

Well that was never going to happen was it!