This Morning hosts Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary welcomed The Piano winner Lucy Illingworth, 14, to the show today (October 30).
Lucy, who is blind and has a rare condition that affects her mental health, was interviewed alongside her mother Candice. She then performed the first single from her self-titled album, Lucy.
However, the segment was quickly met with backlash on the This Morning hashtag on Twitter.
This Morning today: Lucy Illingworth interview branded ‘cruel’
Welcoming Lucy to the show, Alison said: “Good morning to everyone.” Ignoring the hosts, Lucy asked her mum if she was with “Danielle”, to which Candice replied: “No, Danielle’s not here darling,” before Alison said: “It’s Alison and Dermot here, and we’re very excited to meet you.”
As Lucy put her fingers in her ears, her mum urged Lucy to say hello. “Are you going to say hello?” “Hello,” Lucy politely responded. Candice then started to explain how she feels nervous when Lucy performs but Lucy goes out and “smashes it”.
The youngster then asked for someone called Adam, before starting to rub her eyes, as her mum urged her not to worry and held Lucy’s hand. As Candice explained how Lucy discovered her love of music, Lucy put her head down and put her fingers in her ears, briefly raising her head and clapping as they spoke about her debut album.
Speaking more softly, Alison and Dermot then spoke to Lucy’s composer Debbie Wiseman. However, Lucy remained sitting with her head down and her fingers in her ears.
Wrapping up the interview, Alison said softly: “You’re going to perform today Lucy and we’re very excited about that. So, do you guys want to go and get ready, and you Mum, you can go as well.”
Lucy then headed over to the piano to give a beautiful performance of her debut single I’m Walking With You.
Viewers react
This Morning viewers were quick to hop onto the hashtag and brand the interview with Lucy “cruel”.
“This feels cruel,” said one. Another then added: “Really talented lady, but maybe they should’ve interviewed her in in surroundings where she feels more comfortable.”
A third commented: “They talk to massive stars in pre-recorded interviews but when it’s a girl who’s incredibly talented and is clearly not in her comfort zone they interview her on LIVE TV?? I don’t get it.”
Another said: “This is very uncomfortable viewing. Poor Lucy. Must be very overwhelming for her.” “Right can we wrap this up, it’s clearly uncomfortable for her, feels quite cruel watching this,” another urged.
“Bad show, #ThisMorning. Very bad show indeed. Everyone involved should be disappointed with that interview. They really need to have a hard look at the welfare of their guests on and off-screen, because this is just not on. At all,” said another.
“Can’t you see that she was uncomfortable on the sofa? This programme should have thought of another way to conduct the interview. It was sensory overload for her,” said another.
Piano playing
However, when Lucy headed over to the piano, she was clearly in her element, delivering a beautiful performance of her debut single and leaving many viewers in tears.
“She is absolutely amazing, very talented,” said one. “So beautiful and played so well. Fighting off the tears atm,” another admitted.
“She’s at home in front of the piano,” said another. “I might have something in my eyes.”
ED! has contacted This Morning for comment.
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