Piers Morgan doubles down on 'real Martha' Baby Reindeer interview amid backlash

Piers Morgan has defended his interview with Baby Reindeer’s “real Martha”, Fiona Harvey, after he faced a backlash from viewers.

The 59-year-old sparked controversy last week when he interviewed Harvey, 58, about the hit Netflix series on his show, Uncensored.

In the drama inspired by the real-life experiences of comedian and writer Richard Gadd, his character Donny is stalked by a woman named Martha after he gives her a free cup of tea in the pub where he works.

Things take a sinister turn in the seven-part series when a seemingly friendly encounter grows into an obsession, as Martha begins waiting outside his house, sending him thousands of emails, and even harassing his parents and turning violent towards his girlfriend.

While Gadd has repeatedly urged viewers to not uncover Martha’s real identity, internet sleuths quickly found her.

Harvey has denied stalking the actor, describing the show as “a work of fiction” - and claimed that she is prepared to go to a court of law to defend herself against allegations made in the series.

Following her appearance on Uncensored, viewers admitted they were stunned by the “bizarre” and “surreal” interview, with many saying that Morgan should never have given her a platform.

Not only that, but since the interview has been watched by more than 10million people on YouTube, she has also requested a million pounds from the broadcaster and his show, claiming they will continue to generate money off her appearance.

Appearing on Tuesday’s Lorraine, Morgan was asked whether Harvey will be receiving sum which she has requested from him, to which he answered: “No she’s not going to get a million pounds. What she wants is an agent…”

In response to the backlash he received for giving her a platform to speak, the journalist insisted that he and his show have “performed their duty of care”.

“I think we have performed our duty of care,” he shared. “We’ve stayed in touch with her since and when she came to the studio, she was actually relatively normal.

“I didn’t get any sign of anyone who I thought was mentally unwell but I do think she sent all these messages and I do think that shows she has an obsessive streak, certainly in relation to Richard Gadd.

“I also think by his own admission, he himself is a pretty damaged individual and he admits to leading her on. So it’s a very messy, human interest story at the heart of this.”

Morgan went on to defend Harvey and allowing her to have her say, adding: “I have interviewed serial killers, psychopaths - I have interviewed people who have done really terrible things and she is not one of those.

“I have had far scarier environments by where I have interviewed people.

“I felt it was important that she was allowed to have her say as she had already been revealed by the media as the real life Martha but she had no ability to tell her story… I think I was fair with her.

“I tried to be very fair and balanced. I tried to get to the truth. I think she lied to me a lot in the interview.”

His comments come after Richard Gadd insisted that he will never disclose the identities of the real individuals upon whom the characters in Baby Reindeer are modelled on.

“I don’t think I’ll ever comment on it ever again,” he told Hollywood Reporter, days before Harvey’s sit-down chat was aired.

The comedian continued: “The Internet’s always going to do its thing. I can’t really comment on that. I’m called Donny Dunn. It exists in a sort of fictional realm; even though it’s based on truth, it exists in a fictional realm.

“Let’s enjoy the world that I’ve created. If I wanted the real-life people to be found, I would’ve made it a documentary.

“I’ve spoken publicly about how I don’t want people to do it and if I start playing a game of whack-a-mole, then I’m almost adding to it.”