Soccer Aid viewers outraged by Clive Tyldesley's Susanna Reid suicide 'joke'

Sports commentator Clive Tyldesley has come under fire for making a joke about suicide during Soccer Aid 2019.

The 64-year-old broadcaster was commenting live on the celebrity charity football match, broadcast live on ITV, which saw Reid’s team defeated by the rival side managed by her Good Morning Britain co-host Piers Morgan.

Tyldesley said: "Might need to keep an eye on her tonight, suicide watch."

Read more: Rita Ora divides fans with bizarre one-legged jeans and shredded top at Soccer Aid

In light of the increasing awareness surrounding mental health many were surprised by the remark.

ITV have been under increased scrutiny surrounding how it deals with mental health issues following the suicides of former Love Island contestants Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon, as well as the death of a guest on The Jeremy Kyle Show, which was subsequently axed.

Read more: Jeremy Kyle Show linked to other suicides following axeing after guest's death

There have been calls for Tyldesley, who has been ITV's senior football commentator since 1998, to apologise for the “crass” joke.

One viewer tweeted: “The ITV commentator on #SoccerAid joking that Susanna Reid will need to be on 'suicide watch' after her team lost the match is wholly inappropriate. Mental health is not a joke, lives are lost every day.”

@hopee13x wrote: “Clive Tyldesley, I hope you’re never in a position where you’re hurting so much you want to end your own life. Suicide watch is invasive & exhausting, not amusing. Making a joke in poor taste like this takes away from the focus of the charity.”

And Kerri-Anne O’Mara said: “I do think a sorry is in order.”

ITV and Clive Tyldesley are yet to comment.

Reid has also not commented on Tyldesley’s remark. But she did admit she was disappointed to have lost to Morgan, who enjoyed bragging about his victory in Good Morning Britain today.