Christopher Biggins and Dame Esther Rantzen spoke to Good Morning Britain via video messaging on Tuesday, to weigh in on the current global coronavirus pandemic.
Actor Christopher, 71, and broadcaster Esther, 79, are both in the age group of UK citizens urged to self-isolate at the moment.
Speaking from his kitchen, Christopher explained that he’s going to use the time to redecorate – but has serious concerns for the financial impact this will have on young performers, as theatre shows are being cancelled across the UK.
On Tuesday’s GMB: Christopher Biggins, 71, expressed worries for ‘out of work young actors’ during the coronavirus pandemic as Esther Rantzen, 79, urged people to pick up the phone during self-isolation
‘I’m going to redecorate my house, I’m going to rearrange it,’ he said. ‘My worry is the older person who lives on their own, I’m worried for their mental health.
‘I think it could be disastrous for a lot of people.
‘I worry about all the theatres that are closed and the cinemas; there’s going to be a lot of young actors out of work.’
Esther gave an update of her situation, having appeared on the show from self-isolation on Monday.
Speaking from his kitchen: Christopher explained that he’s going to use the time to redecorate – but has serious concerns for the financial impact this will have on young performers, as theatre shows are being cancelled across the UK.
‘May I recommend this wonderful piece of technology,’ she said, holding up a landline phone. ‘You can actually talk to each other that way!’
Esther is the founder of an organisation called The Silver Line, which is a 24/7 phone line in place for the elderly to use so that they can speak to someone and not feel lonely.
Esther revealed that it has been used a lot since the pandemic took hold of the world.
‘The Silver Line has had huge demand for our service. I suggest we ring each other up, talk to each other. If you need help – ask for it,’ she said.
Pick up the phone: ‘May I recommend this wonderful piece of technology,’ she said, holding up a landline phone. ‘You can actually talk to each other that way!’
Checking in: Esther gave an update of her situation, having appeared on the show from self-isolation on Monday
Prior to her GMB appearance, a clip was shown of US comedian Mel Brooks and his son Max.
The pair uploaded a video urging people to stay at home, which went viral.
Esther said: ‘Can I ask Piers [Morgan] for your help? You just featured one of my personal heroes [Mel]. Would you mind making him your American correspondent?’
Meanwhile, regular co-host Susanna Reid skyped in from home, after self-isolating due to coronavirus symptoms in her household.
The ITV presenter announced Monday evening that she will be self -isolating at her London home after a member of her household developed symptoms akin to those displayed by COVID-19 carriers and would not return to GMB as she adopts the precautionary measure laid out by the World Health Organisation.
Working from home: Susanna Reid called in from home during Tuesday’s episode of Good Morning Britain, after self-isolating due to coronavirus symptoms in her household
She took part in Tuesday’s show via video call to join her co-star Piers Morgan as he joked she was trying to avoid him.
Speaking to Susanna via video link at the opening of the show Piers quipped: ‘I’ve heard some ways of avoiding working with me but this is ridiculous.’
‘Finally after all these years I’ve put myself in self-isolation from you,’ she replied.
Susanna reassured viewers she had no symptoms, explaining that one of her children had mild symptoms that appeared on Monday.
She told Piers: ‘One of my children has a cough, a persistent cough. And that came on yesterday. Before the briefing yesterday afternoon, the advice had been the person themselves would be confined to the house for seven days.
Revelation: Addressing Twitter followers on Monday evening, Susanna, 49, admitted she was distancing herself from the ITV production team, her co-hosts and members of the public – despite showing no symptoms herself
Self-isolating: Susanna took part in Tuesday’s show, appearing via video call to join her co-stars Piers Morgan and Charlotte Hawkins
‘Well, suddenly with these new drastic action measures, that changed yesterday afternoon. It meant if one member of your household had the cough or fever you would all have to go in self isolation for 14 days. Immediately, I thought I can’t go into work and work with you guys for 14 days.’
Susanna shares three teenage sons with her ex husband Dominic Cotton, and pointed out that one child’s symptoms have meant both households are self-isolating.
‘All the children are off. We’re two households. It’s a very unusual situation. I am very, very lucky. I’m paid even when I’m sick. I’m in a privileged position.’
Asked by Piers how she would cope with enforced time off, she revealed: ‘I love my work, I love coming into work, I love the daily battles, I love the challenge, I love interviewing and broadcasting all this to our viewers. It gives you so much pleasure. I’m going to really miss that for two weeks.’
No symptoms: Susanna reassured viewers she had no symptoms, explaining that one of her children had mild symptoms that appeared on Monday
No testing: Piers was keen to point out that a lack of testing available for coronavirus meant Susanna and her family probably won’t find out if they have they have contracted the virus
On how her family was coping, she added: ‘My boys are teenagers, nothing much scares them and certainly not this. They are more concerned with not seeing their friends.
‘It’s going to be a challenge to fill the day productively. What I found yesterday was, I spent the entire day scrolling through twitter, getting updates… but I’m going to have to spend my time a lot better than just going through twitter for two weeks.
‘We all think we have a novel in us, whether I spend the next two weeks writing a book or whether I actually do a lot of cooking or baking or whether we set up a home school.’
She explained: ‘I have a perfectly normal temperature, as do all of my children. I do not have a cough, I have no symptoms. I’m not feeling fatigued, I feel 100% healthy.
Concerned: Piers and Charlotte spent the show updating viewers on the global health crisis
‘In other circumstances, before the advice changed yesterday, I would have come into work. Then the advice changed, if there is a persistent cough, and or a fever, then the whole household has to self isolate. There is no test for me to establish whether this is actually the virus and I have huge doubts it is. I really just don’t think it is. I think it’s a seasonal cough.’
Piers was keen to point out that a lack of testing available for coronavirus meant Susanna and her family probably won’t find out if they have they have contracted the virus.
He said: ‘You don’t know your son has coronavirus. You might all be doing this 14 day self isolation. Quite a lot of people for your two households, for no reason. Nobody knows if they’ve got someone who’s got it.’
A vision: Charlotte was her usual stunning self in a blue dress
Susanna agreed, saying: ‘Yesterday we heard from the World Health Organisation, ‘test, test, test’. Here we are not getting tested unless you are hospitalised. The advice for me and my family is don’t even call 111 unless you are really worried… it may be a seasonal cough, there is no fever, no one else has symptoms.
‘That’s one thing for me but what if I was a healthcare worker or a teacher, or a nurse, or a police officer or an ambulance driver?’
She added: ‘It’s very frustrating not to be able to test for it… this could be a rolling 14 day quarantine. These symptoms could disappear after 24 hours. Then somebody else might pick up some of the symptoms.’
Good Morning Britain airs weekday mornings from 6AM-9AM.