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Piers Morgan brands John Cleese a 'sad old bore' over dig at new TV gig

Piers Morgan hit out at John Cleese on Twitter. (Getty Images)
Piers Morgan hit out at John Cleese on Twitter. (Getty Images)

Piers Morgan has branded John Cleese a "bitter sad old bore" after the comedian questioned his talent.

The Monty Python dished out his comments as he reacted to media mogul Rupert Murdoch recruiting the former Good Morning Britain presenter to host a show on his new television station talkTV.

Sharing his opinion to Twitter, Cleese wrote: "I see Murdoch is hiring Piers Morgan as a front man. He'll probably get about £20 million, and everyone will gasp !

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"But think how much more he would be getting if he had any discernible talent."

Morgan reacted by re-sharing Cleese's message alongside a dig of his own.

"Awwww, Merry Christmas to you too, Cleesey! I love how much this has annoyed you... you bitter sad old bore," he shared.

It’s not the pair’s first internet spat as they previously argued online when Morgan wrote in a newspaper that he and Cleese has seen each other in a New York restaurant but ignored each other.

Watch: Sharon Osbourne takes a ‘lovely time out’ with ‘dear friend’ Piers Morgan

On Twitter, Cleese said he had recognised Morgan but “didn’t want to speak to someone I truly detest”.

Morgan then retaliated by suggesting Cleese hadn’t been “funny” for “a few decades”.

News of Morgan’s new role on Murdoch’s News Corp channel was made public in September.

It’s set to launch in 2022 and will mark the journalist’s return to TV news since he quit GMB after refusing to apologise for comments he made about the Duchess of Sussex’s mental health.

John Cleese had something to say about Piers Morgan's move to Rupert Murdoch's new channel. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)
John Cleese had something to say about Piers Morgan's move to Rupert Murdoch's new channel. (Photo by Dave J Hogan/Getty Images)

He said of his new position: “I’m thrilled to be returning to News Corp which is where I began my media career more than 30 years ago. Rupert Murdoch has been a constant and fearless champion of free speech and we are going to be building something new and very exciting together.

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“I want my global show to be a fearless forum for lively debate and agenda-setting interviews, and a place that celebrates the right of everyone to have an opinion, and for those opinions to be vigorously examined and challenged.

Alongside his TV appointment, Morgan has also been given two weekly online columns for News Corp titles The Sun and the New York Post, and a deal with HarperCollins for the follow-up to his book Wake Up.

Watch: John Cleese reveals why he would have to re-write Fawlty Towers in 2020