The 50-year-old spoke candidly about what it’s like to work with Piers Morgan, with whom she is frequently seen sparring on the programme.

“Ben Shephard is much more like a warm hug, whereas Piers Morgan is like sitting next to a pin cushion,” she in an interview with The Times.

“We do fight like Punch and Judy, verbally. We’re sparring all the time. You say he takes up more of the oxygen, but I use my chunk of time, I hope, very wisely.”

The star admitted she’d had misgivings when she first found out she’d be working with controversial TV personality Morgan, asking ITV bosses: “Do you know what you’re doing?”

Despite these early doubts, Reid said she and Morgan have a “good relationship”.  

Previously, Morgan teased her on GMB about her on-off relationship with Steve Parish, chairman of Crystal Palace football club. However, she said he now “respects” her privacy.

“Piers knows that I’m private about my life and more recently he respects that,” she said.

Asked if she’d had words with the presenter, she said: “No, Piers doesn’t get told. But for all his sort of reputation on air, off air we have a good relationship. He respects my boundaries.”

Last month, Reid spoke out about being targeted by online trolls.

The presenter described the abuse she receives online as “toxic and horrible” but said she doesn’t allow it to discourage her.

In an interview with Mail On Sunday’s You Magazine, she said: “The abuse is so toxic and horrible, but you can’t be afraid of what people are going to say about you.

“Obviously, there are moments when I’m upset or I beat myself up about getting something wrong - and there are things that frighten me - but we do a good job and we enjoy what we do. I have moments of self-doubt, but I’ve been doing this a long time now.”