Football commentator Clive Tyldesley has sparked outrage over a "crass" joke he made about Susanna Reid being put on suicide watch.

He made the comments last night during the live broadcast of charity football match Soccer Aid, when Susanna's team was defeated by the team managed by her Good Morning Britain co-host Piers Morgan.

As the camera showed Piers and Susanna stood together on the pitch, Clive can be heard saying: "Might need to keep an eye on her tonight, suicide watch".

Given the recent focus on mental health and the tragic suicides of stars, including Love Island's Mike Thalassitis and Sophie Gradon, viewers were outraged by what they heard.

One took to Twitter to say: "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."

Another said: "socceraid maybe you need to speak to CliveTyldesley about his crass suicide watch comments on national tv that susannareid100 needed to be placed on it . SO Unicefuk_media MindCharity call him him out"

"Clive Tyldesley making a direct comparison of losing the SoccerAid match to 'suicide watch'. Very very awkward," one viewer suggested.

While another commented: " Absolutely disgusting comment by the commentator on Soccer Aid saying Piers Morgan's co-presenter needed to be on Suicide Watch after the world XI winning the game. What a horrible and insensitive thing to say"

One viewer posted: "I can see Clive Tyldesley getting into serious trouble about the suicide watch comment after the soccer aid game tonight. It was very poor taste to be honest."

Another said: "With the stigma of mental health Clive Tyldesley makes reference to susannareid100 being on Suicide Watch over a charity match she lost."

And another wrote: "Clive Tyldesley joking about Susanna Reid needing to be on suicide watch because she lost to Piers Morgan is utterly disgusting"

Mirror Online has contacted ITV for comment.

* Samaritans (116 123) operates a 24-hour service available every day of the year. If you prefer to write down how you’re feeling, or if you’re worried about being overheard on the phone, you can email Samaritans at  [email protected]  

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