Former deputy prime minister John Prescott has launched a tirade against television presenter Piers Morgan in a fraught live interview.

Lord Prescott and the former Britain's Got Talent judge got into an early morning verbal sparring session as they clashed over Labour splits.

The Good Morning Britain interview got off to a bad start when Morgan started off his questioning by saying to the peer "with great respect...".

Lord Prescott interrupted, saying: "Hang on, hang on. Are you going to insult me now? When you use the word respect, you always lead in something else."

Morgan, punching his hand, replied: "All right, sunshine. Come on. Bring it on."

Lord Prescott, who once famously punched a protester who threw an egg at him during a visit to North Wales, said: "Come on then, bring it on."

Morgan joked: "I'm glad you're not within punching distance."

The Herald:

Lord Prescott then said: "You can put money on it being about punching. Is that why you're down in London and not up here?"

Morgan joked: "It's a bit grim up north."

The clashes prompted fellow Good Morning Britain host Susanna Reid to joke: "I'll get the popcorn."

Lord Prescott was later heard criticising Lord Blunkett, who has called Jeremy Corbyn's re-election as party leader a catastrophe, claiming the former home secretary was the "bloody catastrophe".

The outburst led to Reid apologising to viewers for the bad language.