Piers Morgan believes his coronavirus scare was actually hay fever after testing negative for the illness.
The broadcaster, 55, had to take a week off presenting duties at Good Morning Britain after falling ill.
The presenter feared he had the deadly virus after coming down with several symptoms.
Under the weather: Piers Morgan believes his hay fever caused him to believe he was suffering from coronavirus
On Sunday, the TV personality said he was suffering from the ‘worst hay fever’ and now believes this caused his illness.
He said on Twitter: ‘Worst hay fever I’ve ever had.
‘Know pollen count’s very high, but anyone else getting it so bad? Any theories as to why? Is reduced pollution during lockdown a factor?’
Following up in a later tweet, Piers said he suffered a number of coronavirus-like symptoms which he now attributes to hay fever.
Suffering: The broadcaster, 55, asked why his hay fever was particularly bad this year
He said: ‘I genuinely thought I had it several weeks ago, now I’m sure it was bad hay fever.
‘Lot of similar symptoms apart from the fever, ironically.’
Piers is returning with his co-host Susanna Reid to Good Morning Britain on Monday after a stint away.
It comes after the broadcaster confirmed that he’s signed a new contract that will see him remain on the breakfast show until 2021.
Returning: Piers will be back on Good Morning Britain on Monday morning after a stint away from our screens
He insisted that he ‘doesn’t care’ about complaints over his no-nonsense interview technique and declared: ‘If my style upsets people, don’t watch!’
It comes amid Ofcom complaints from 4000 viewers over his hard-hitting interviews and hard line of questioning to government ministers, with Piers remaining defiant that he was ‘just doing my job’, to which he won mass support from many.
Speaking The Sun’s TV Mag, Piers revealed that he’ll remain on the ITV morning show alongside co-star Susanna Reid, 49, for the foreseeable.
Here to stay: Piers has confirmed that he’s signed a new contract that will see him remain on Good Morning Britain until 2021
He said: ‘I’ve just signed a new contract up for GMB until the end of next year. I love working with Susanna and the team – we’re a Ying Yang that works.’
The star said of the backlash: ‘If my style upsets people, don’t watch! Watch something else. Nobody’s forcing anyone to watch it. You’ve got a remote control in your hand, I really don’t understand what the problem is.’
Despite some viewers taking offence over his presenting style, media regulator Ofcom cleared him of all complaints, with Piers adding that only cares about Ofcom grievances if he felt that he was genuinely ‘at fault.’
Going nowhere: The broadcaster, 55, also insisted that he ‘doesn’t care’ about complaints over his no-nonsense interview techniques as he declared: ‘If my style upsets people, don’t watch!’ (pictured with co-star Susanna Reid)
Insisting he was simply doing his job, Piers continued: ‘Ofcom ruled very heavily in my favour, which confirmed my belief that I’m just doing my job. The job of broadcasters, particularly during a crisis like this, is to challenge and ask questions.’
The journalist went on to admit that his ‘frustration’ only comes out on the show when government ministers failed to answer ‘basic questions.’
Meanwhile, though his future on GMB is certain for the time being, the outspoken TV star hasn’t ruled out a different career altogether as he joked his has his eye on being the next James Bond.
Defiant: It comes amid Ofcom complaints from 4000 viewers over his hard-hitting interviews and hard line of questioning to government ministers, with Piers remaining defiant that he was ‘just doing my job’
Dream team: He said: ‘I’ve just signed a new contract up for GMB until the end of next year. I love working with Susanna and the team – we’re a Ying Yang that works’
Piers facetiously mused that he could be a ‘slightly older, slightly silvery fox assassin.’
Piers joined Good Morning Britain in 2015 as a guest host, before going on to a permanent presenter.
He began his career as a journalist on Fleet Street, where he served as writer and editor for several publications including The Sun, News of the World and the Daily Mirror.
He also carved out a career on TV, having stints on America’s Got Talent and Britain’s Got Talent, presenting his hugely popular Life Stories series and winning the US version of Celebrity Apprentice.
Defiant: ‘If my style upsets people, don’t watch! Watch something else. Nobody’s forcing anyone to watch it’