Ricky Tomlinson catches Good Morning Britain off guard with sneaky Maggie Thatcher jibe

He couldn't resist.

Actor and comedian Ricky Tomlinson stunned the Good Morning Britain studio today with a cheeky dig at the late ex-Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. The 77-year-old Scouser was appearing on the ITV show to pay tribute to fellow The Royle Family star and long-term friend Caroline Aherne, who died in July. Speaking to presenters Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid from his home in Liverpool, Tomlinson spoke affectionately about the Ealing-born comedy pioneer with whom he spent so many years on screen.

"She was fabulous. Her skills of watching people and making a joke out of it was unbelievable," he said. "But there was nothing sacred, there was no sort of boundaries that she wouldn’t have a go at and now and again I do little speeches and little talks and I tell some stories about Caroline which I couldn’t repeat on your programme this morning because they’re very rude, but they’re very funny. "She was a wonderful person and very generous... I will love her forever."

But it was what he said at the end of the poignant speech that really caught the programme off guard. He added: "Why didn't she have a state funeral? Margaret Thatcher had a state funeral and everyone hated her!" https://twitter.com/evertonfcpics/status/781053845363384320 Piers Morgan seemed to enjoy the impromptu outburst, whereas poor old Susanna Reid didn't really know what to say. It's fair to assume neither of them expected politics to creep into the conversation. As the call wrapped up, Tomlinson was roaring with laughter. This is how Twitter reacted. https://twitter.com/lewispringle/status/781037251849494528?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw https://twitter.com/Gaz_FM/status/781055588218335232 https://twitter.com/EPLinEngland/status/781049002427047936 https://twitter.com/AnfieldLine/status/781038905931997185 https://twitter.com/patto1878/status/781083714180612096 https://twitter.com/major_marvel/status/781080138494672896