Piers Morgan's 'mocking' of Chinese language sparks almost 300 complaints

Piers Morgan’s mocking of a Chinese TV commercial has sparked almost 300 complaints.

The Good Morning Britain presenter mimicked the sound of a Chinese voiceover, saying “ching chong chang” on the ITV show on Tuesday while discussing Peter Phillips starring in an advert for Jersey Fresh Milk.

A spokesperson for broadcasting regulator Ofcom told Yahoo UK on Wednesday morning that it had already received 297 complaints about Morgan’s behaviour.

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The 54-year-old former tabloid journalist has denied accusations that he was being racist.

Morgan wrote on Twitter: “I was mocking a member of the British royal family appearing in an advert for Chinese state milk, not Chinese people.”

Former footballer John Barnes tweeted in response to Morgan’s comments on air saying “Just saw @piersmorgan on GMB mocking Chinese people on the way they speak, what are the odds he faces no criticism for it...”, prompting Morgan’s reply.

Co-host Susanna Reid, 49, said at the time: “Taking the mickey out of foreign languages is rather 1970s."

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Morgan hit back: “I don’t know the Chinese... People are more worried about me trying to mimic the Chinese language than a member of the Royal Family trying to flog milk.”

The GMB hosts were discussing the appearance by Phillips – the Queen’s eldest grandson and son of Princess Anne – starring in the commercial, for milk produced and sold in China from Jersey cows. The ad shows Phillips speaking Mandarin via a likely dubbed voiceover.