It’s been 15 years since Kay Burley reduced Peter Andre to tears on Sky News.
Burley interviewed the Mysterious Girl singer at a sensitive time – after ex-wife Katie Price had just got married to cagefighter Alex Reid – by asking him an outrageous question about his kids.
Burley said: “Because we were wondering how you might feel if Alex Reid said he wanted to adopt your kids”.
The singer, now 51, appeared visibly upset, telling Burley: “No-one is going to take my kids away from me” before pulling out his ear piece and walking out of the studio.
At the time, Kaye wrote in a Sky News blog that she’d done Peter “a favour”.
She went on: “What a day. Peter Andre broke down on my show and when I went to check during an ad break that he was OK, he sobbed on my shoulder in the Green Room. He’d discovered not 12 hours earlier that the mother of two of his children had married without even bothering to tell him and was devastated at the very thought that she might want take the youngsters away from him.”
Following the interview, Ofcom received 881 complaints from viewers, the majority of whom were concerned by the “intrusive” manner in which Andre was interviewed.
But neither Andre, nor anyone authorised to act on his behalf, complained of unfair treatment or infringement of privacy to the regulator.
Ofcom found it was “in keeping” with the established editorial line of the programme to ask Andre questions about the new marriage given that it was a major news story.
Ofcom said: “Further, it was understandable that the presenter focused on the human interest angle of the wedding by asking Peter Andre for his reaction, and how it would impact on their children.
“In Ofcom’s view, the audience could therefore reasonably have expected the presenter to ask him about the wedding, and the implications of it, given that the interview was taking place on a rolling news programme on the same day that the wedding featured as a major news item.”
Today, the controversial broadcaster, 64, announced that she is retiring from the corporation after 36 years.
Kaye made the shock announcement as she closed the Sky News Breakfast programme. She said: “From a standing start to one of the most recognised and valued brands in global news, it’s been an honour and privilege to work with some of the best and hardest working teams in the business.
“News by its very nature is often devastating and together we’ve covered so many life-changing events – from the tragic death of Diana, the shocking terror attack of 9/11; the Asian Tsunami; the Concorde air disaster.
“But we’ve also enjoyed some wonderful high notes too, haven’t we – the thrill of London winning the chance to host the 2012 Olympics; a plethora of royal weddings; jubilees and who can forget days and days and DAYS waiting for royal babies to arrive at the Lindo Wing.
“But after over a million minutes of live TV news – more than anyone else in the world – its time for me to indulge in some of my other passions – including my love for travel.
“So, after covering 12 separate general elections – including Sir Keir Starmer’s victory last year – I am retiring from Sky News – let politicians of every party just rejoice at that news!,” she joked as she referenced her numerous clashes with MPs over the years, before adding: “Thank you for waking up and tuning in every morning. I can’t tell you how much I have appreciated your support over the last three and a half decades: You’re awesome. I will post more on my social media and hope to see you around. Please keep in touch.”
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