Piers Morgan and Lord Prescott in TV slanging match: 'I'm glad you're not within punching distance'

The controversial columnist brings up Prescott's infamous punching incident

Piers Morgan and Lord Prescott might differ politically but they share a unique ability to refrain from mincing their words.

As such, it may come as no surprise that the pair found themselves embroiled in an amusing slanging match on live television, with talk even turning to going for blows.

Morgan, the controversial columnist who is editor-at-large of DailyMail.com, interviewed the former deputy Labour Prime Minister on ITV’s This Morning about Jeremy Corbyn's reelection as Labour leader.

Conversation with Lord Prescott, who was speaking from the Labour conference in Liverpool, turned to David Blunkett’s article in the Daily Mail which dubbed the reelection a “catastrophe”.

“With great respect Lord Prescott, you were…,” Morgan began to ask but was immediately interrupted by Prescott.

“Hang on, hang on,” Prescott interjected. “Are you going to insult me now. When you use the word respect, you always lead in something else. What is it?”

“Alright, sunshine come on bring it on,” Morgan retorted, jokingly punching his fist.

“Come on then, come on then,” Prescott replied.

Not holding back, Morgan then referenced the infamous egg incident which saw a protesting farmer lob an egg at Prescott and the politician, a former amateur boxer, respond by punching him. “I'm glad you're not within punching distance,” Morgan said.

Fellow GMB presenter Susanna Reid quipped: “I'll get the popcorn”.

Lord Prescott replied: “You can put money on it being about punching. Is that why you're down in London and not up here.”

At the time, Lord Prescott apologised for the punch-throwing incident with a protester which took place in 2001, saying he regretted it.