RICHARD Madeley recoiled live on air as Susanna Reid touched his shoulder amid ongoing rumours of a "feud".
The presenters reunited on Good Morning Britain for the first time in two months – and it wasn't just the weather that was chilly this morning.
The show got off to a frosty start with a dig from Susanna about keeping Richard at arm's length.
Then when she reached out to welcome him back, Richard jumped back.
Richard shouted: "Oh blimey, we can actually touch…"
Susanna looked shocked by Richard's reaction and sharply remarked: "Just a shoulder tap."
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Attempting to move on from the frostiness, Susanna added: "Anyway, it's nice to have you back."
Fans feared Richard had been sacked after he disappeared from the GMB hot-seat for eight weeks.
But he returned today to host the breakfast show – but suffered a cheeky swipe from Susanna within two minutes.
Reflecting on the shorter desk in the studio, Richard commented: "Has this place shrunk since I've been away? It's smaller!"
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"They expanded it for Covid didn't they? We had to expand it so we were miles and miles apart."
Susanna replied: "Despite my insistence we carry on sitting miles and miles apart they have brought us closer together."
Richard hit back: "I thought you'd be against it. You like your little bubble, don't you…"
Susanna agreed saying: "I do, I like holding everyone at arm's length."
She softened as she congratulated Richard on welcoming his new granddaughter over the summer.
Explaining how he's spent the last two months, he said: "I was finishing my novel and I just couldn't do this show and finish the novel at the same time.
"I've done it and now I'm back."
Susanna agreed: "You can't get up at 3.30am and have a life.
"So you've abandoned life and you're back on the early shifts.
"Well, it's absolutely lovely to have you back."
She then congratulated him on becoming a granddad after daughter Chloe gave birth over the summer.
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The Sun revealed Richard – who is playfully compared to TV's cheesy fictional host Alan Partridge – was returning to the show today.
Fans feared he had been sacked by ITV after disappearing for eight weeks.
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