GMB's Ed Balls addresses lengthy health issue as Susanna Reid raises concerns

Good Morning Britain presenter Susanna Reid has expressed concerns for her co-star Ed Balls after noticing his husky voice had been lingering for some quite time. Returning to their hosting duties today, the pair caught up with the UK's Chief Medical Adviser Chris Whitty to discuss the effects of vaping and smoking ahead of the second reading of the tobacco and vapes bill in Parliament today.

Following the segment, Susanna, 53, turned to Ed, 57, and asked: "Have you been smoking 20 a day? Your voice is really damaged?" In response, he said: "I'm really sorry if it annoys you."

Susanna told Ed there was no need to apologise as she recalled previously losing her voice completely which resulted in time off work. Ed went on to say he began having had flu-type symptoms around a month ago and now has a persistent cough which won't go away.

Ed's co-star chimed in to suggest it could be the 100-day cough, known more commonly as whooping cough. "It does sound like you're a chain smoker," Susanna continued. "Can you confirm or deny?"

The former politician confirmed he didn't smoke or vape and echoed his apology, adding: "I'm very sorry for my husky voice, it's really annoying," to which Susanna replied, laughing: "I like it."

Quizzing Mr Whitty on his thoughts on the show, the politician urged those who smoke to vape instead and said those who don't smoke shouldn't vape.

Adding to his point, he said: "And, marketing to children is utterly unacceptable."

Susanna went on to highlight that vapes are sold in newsagents and can be found right next to sweets where children would look.

Addressing her words, Chris said he hoped MPs would focus on this point in Parliament today in a bid to make a change.

He continued: "On the basis of that specifically is, as you say, the way these companies are marketing these to children is through colours, is through flavours, cartoon characters, displaying them in particular ways, which appeal to children.

"What this bill will do, along with the smoke-free generation, is to make it possible for ministers to substantially restrict the colours and flavours and to also have plain packaging and put them potentially behind the counter."

He went on to say the aim is to decrease the attractiveness of vapes from their current appeal.

Echoing his previous words, he stressed that vapes should only be used to help people to stop smoking.

Ahead of the debate today, Health Secretary Victoria Atkins has also said the tobacco and vapes bill would save thousands of lives and "ease the strain" on the NHS.

She said: "Too many people know someone whose life has been tragically cut short or irreversibly changed because of smoking, which despite significant progress remains the UK's biggest preventable killer.

"The truth is that there is no safe level of tobacco consumption. It is uniquely harmful and that is why we are taking this important action today to protect the next generation."

The Bill includes a new law to stop children who turn 15 this year or younger from ever legally being sold cigarettes or other tobacco products, alongside measures to crack down on youth vaping and strengthen enforcement of these new laws.

Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV and ITVX.