Ed Balls Takes a Backseat on Good Morning Britain
Good Morning Britain’s Ed Balls found himself sidelined during a live interview, as his wife, Yvette Cooper, took center stage to discuss the recent Iranian missile strikes.
Host Susanna Reid announced that the Foreign Secretary would be appearing on the ITV show to address pressing questions regarding the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.
Before the show went to a commercial break, Susanna, 55, remarked: “Still to come, overnight we saw that drone strike at a UK RAF base in Cyprus. We’re going to speak to the Foreign Secretary, Yvette Cooper, about that and the government’s plan to support British Nationals stuck in the Gulf, including a historic mass evacuation if necessary.”
Turning to her co-host Ed, 59, she added: “I’ll be doing that interview, of course, because Yvette is obviously your wife.” Ed humorously responded, “I think I’ll sit this one out,” to which Susanna nodded in agreement, saying, “Sit this one out!”
Yvette Cooper Discusses Evacuation Plans
During her appearance, Yvette, 56, informed viewers that the government is actively exploring options to assist the 300,000 British citizens currently in the Gulf region.
In a related segment, Love Island’s Arabella Chi expressed her fears about the situation, revealing that she has made plans to “hide her family in a storage cupboard” amid the Iranian missile strikes.
The 34-year-old reality star, who gained fame on the ITV2 dating show in 2019, shared that she had moved to the UAE last August after welcoming her daughter Gigi in June with boyfriend Billy Henty.
Arabella is among numerous celebrities who have voiced their concerns on social media, as they navigate the widespread retaliation occurring across the Middle East following US airstrikes.
On Monday, she appeared on Good Morning Britain to discuss her experiences with Ed Balls and Susanna Reid. When Ed asked her what safety advice she had received, Arabella replied: “They are saying stay away from windows. Obviously, I am near a window right now, but we cleared out our storage cupboard yesterday, and there are no windows there. If we did hear a bang, we feel like we needed to escape, that’s where we would go. So far, we haven’t had to do that.”
Arabella Chi Shares Her Experience
Arabella further elaborated on her fears, stating, “It’s a very, very scary time out here. It’s obviously apprehensive because we don’t know what’s coming, but I feel like we’re in good hands, and the government has been unbelievable so far.”
She recounted a frightening incident from Saturday afternoon when she and her family first heard a loud bang while on The Palm, realizing it was related to missile interceptions. “That was probably the most scared I have ever been in my life,” she admitted.
As the situation escalates, Arabella expressed her gratitude for the government’s efforts, saying, “I feel safe, and as it stands right now, we have no bags packed, we’re not planning on leaving. But if things got worse, then I might reconsider.”
Celebrity Reactions to the Crisis
Other celebrities in Dubai, including Luisa Zissman and Petra Ecclestone, have also shared their experiences during this tumultuous time. Many have described the nights filled with explosions as the “scariest, worst nights of our lives,” while reassuring their followers that they are currently safe.
Luisa, who moved to Dubai to escape the UK’s weather and rising crime, updated her fans on social media, saying, “Lots of bangs we are hearing. Stay safe, fellow UAE gang.” Meanwhile, Petra expressed her concerns about explaining the situation to her young children, stating, “I don’t have the answers to certain things, and that was terrible — just being asked what’s going to happen next.”
As the crisis continues to unfold, the resilience of those affected remains evident, with many expressing their gratitude for the support they have received during these uncertain times.
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