Ten Things You Dont Know About Piers Morgan

Even in the rowdy, no-holds-barred world of the British popular press, Morgan stood out as editor of the tabloids News of the World and later, the Mirror. One of his most infamous headlines at the Mirror said, Achtung Surrender!" the day before England played a championship soccer match with Germany in 1996. (Germany won, 6-5.) And he was fired from the Mirror in 2004 after published photos of British soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners were found to be fake. The Mirror said it had been the victim of a "calculated and malicious hoax."

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In 1998, he violated the tacit agreement between the British press and the Royal Family not to invade the privacy of Princes William and Harry, who were then at school. When the Mirror tried unsuccessfully to get the details of a minor injury Harry suffered in a sports accident, Morgan ran a front page headline: Harrys Had An Accident But Were Not Allowed To Tell You. The headline caused Prince Charles, Harrys father, to lodge a complaint with the Press Complaints Commission, and a royal spokesman said Charles was "deeply disappointed."

The Mirror, under Morgans leadership, paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to Dianas ex-butler, Paul Burrell, for his tell-all stories five years after the princess died. And in 1998, the newspapers published love letters between Diana and her lover, James Hewitt, after sending them to the royal family.

In 2003, when President George W. Bush fell off a Segway, the two-wheeled, electric transportation device, Morgan called him an "idiot." In 2007, Morgan himself fell off a Segwayand, unlike President Bush, he broke three ribs.

Who would win in a Morgan vs. Cowell slugfest? Were not sure, but what we do know is that Cowell is a very close friend of Morgans who recommended him as his own replacement on Americas Got Talent.

Based on his years in the tabloid business, Morgan regards Madonna, who clashed with him several times, as "a kind of irritant in my life." But he says the superstar can get on his show if she apologizes on bended knee for the annoyance she caused him. Somehow, we dont think thats going to happen. Other scheduled guests, who are presumably more welcome, include Howard Stern, George Clooney and Condoleezza Rice.

We dont know if Morgan wanted Ford as a guest, but Ford sure doesnt want Morgan. "[Hes] promoting the show as looking for truth from his subjectsso I shall have nothing to do with himIm interested in selling a product," Ford said. If you want the truth, go somewhere else." Well, at least hes honest. Of course, Morgan gleefully quoted the actor on his twitter account (@piersmorgan).

Over the last two years, hes hosted( in the UK) Britains Got Talent; You Cant Fire Me, Im Famous; Comic Relief Does The Apprentice (he was fired); The Dark Side of Fame with Piers Morgan; a travel series, Piers Morgan On; Piers Morgans Life Stories; and Piers Morgan on Sandbanks, a three-part program about the upscale British locale. In the U.S., hes been in Americas Got Talent; The Celebrity Apprentice (he won); and now, Piers Morgan Tonight

Longtime girlfriend Celia Walden, 34, is the bride. Like her husband, Walden has ties to British newspapers. Shes written for the Daily Telegraph and the Daily Mail, and she published a novel, Harms Way, in 2008. The small private wedding was held in the English village of Swinbrook, with the reception reportedly taking place at the local pub.

Talking to reporters,Morgan said, "I think television should be provocative. You have got to be more aggressive. You have got to be louder. I want you guys to be writing about this show regularly, good, bad or ugly."

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