Ed Balls momentarily stepped back from his presenting duties for the second time this week during Thursday’s Good Morning Britain to avoid interviewing his wife Home Secretary Yvette Cooper.

Instead, his co-host Susanna Reid conducted the chat solo as she spoke to the politician, who was in Berkshire, via a zoom link.

The awkward moment came after ITV conceded that he would not be allowed to interrogate his spouse again following an outcry in August.

Former Labour Cabinet minister Ed, 57, stayed silent while his fellow presenter quizzed his wife about everything from migration numbers to whether to public can trust politicians.

As the show returned after an ad break, the camera was zoomed in only on Susanna, with Ed having seemingly left the studio temporarily.

Susanna quipped: ‘The Prime Minister is due to announce today that every neighbourhood will have a named and contactable police officer as part of the Prime Minister’s mission to tackle crime.

Ed Balls momentarily stepped back from his presenting duties for the second time this week during Thursday’s GMB to avoid interviewing his wife Home Secretary Yvette Cooper 

Instead, his co-host Susanna Reid conducted the chat solo as she spoke to the politician, who was in Berkshire, via a zoom link

‘So, we’re joined by the Home Secretary who’s in charge of our police – Yvette Cooper.’

The entire interview was conducted with Ed out of the camera sH๏τ and unable to ask any questions himself.

It’s the second time this week that Yvette has been on the show so Ed has taken a back seat.

On Wednesday, while Susanna was gearing up to interview her, Ed said: ‘As you know she’s my wife, so I’ll sit this one out’.

In August, when Ed did speak to his wife on air for the show, theinterview was branded ’embarrᴀssing to the extreme’ by viewers concerned about the potential conflict of interest – although bosses insisted that both behaved ‘professionally’ and it was not against rules.

Thousands of people made official complaints to the regulator about the episode of the breakfast show which included Yvette being questioned over the Labour government’s handling of riots.

Ed served as Education Secretary and shadow chancellor before losing his Commons seat in 2015, and pursuing a career on TV.

He asked his wife during the exchange on August 5 whether officers had policed protests by far-right activists and pro-Palestine demonstrators differently.

Ed, who has three children with him, responded by saying police had to operate ‘without fear or favour, whatever the kinds of crimes it is that they face’.

Former Labour Cabinet minister Ed, 57, stayed silent while his fellow presenter quizzed his wife about everything from migration numbers to whether to public can trust politicians

The awkward moment came after ITV conceded that he would not be allowed to interrogate his spouse again following an outcry in August

It’s the second time this week that Yvette has been on the show so Ed has taken a back seat 

However, after Thursday’s interview, even with Ed off-screen, viewers were left unimpressed

Read More Ed Balls sparks ANOTHER Good Morning Britain bias row after ‘sickening’ clash with pub landlord

He also asked her whether there had been a ‘two-tier approach’ to policing, and if police have been ‘softer and more cautious’ when policing the Gaza demonstrations compared with a ‘tougher’ approach over the previous week.

Before that interview, Ed told viewers he had ‘genuine questions’ for Ms Cooper, as he has ‘rarely seen her at all in the last week’ because of the recent disorder.

The following month the boss of ITV vowed the scenes would not be repeated, despite Ofcom not pursuing an investigation.

Chief executive Dame Carolyn McCall said: ‘Would we do it again? No. Was it impartial, fair and balanced? And did they behave professionally? Yes.’

However, after Thursday’s interview, even with Ed off-screen, viewers were left unimpressed and took to X to write: 

‘Do NOT have #yvetteCooper on while #EdBalls is on. Can’t they see how ludicrous this is? #gmb.’

‘Love how they’ve cut Ed Balls totally off our screens. Awkward!! #gmb.’

‘Ah I see Ed Balls is hosting his wife Yvette Cooper on his morning TV show again. Ridiculous. #GMB.’

‘Poor Susanna, not only does she have to carry Ed Balls every morning, occasionally, she has to deal with his Mrs, as well. #gmb.’

‘Mrs Balls is doing the studio rounds this morning. Wonder what Ed will do while Susanna interviews her? #gmb.’

‘@UKLabour supporters can say what they want about right wingers appearing on #GBNews. But Ed Balls hosting his own wife on #GMB is way worse.’