Resigned Daily Mirror editor no stranger to controversy

AS editor of The Daily Mirror, Piers Morgan was no stranger to controversy.

In nine years of leadership, he was buffeted by critics but also guided the Mirror to the supreme accolade of Britain’s National Newspaper of the Year in 2002.

But his tenure finally ended yesterday after the paper published faked photographs in the belief that they showed British soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners.

Mr Morgan was only too aware of the fickle nature of journalism. He said last year: “Today’s cock of the walk, tomorrow’s feather duster.”

Piers Morgan has been alternatively described as arrogant, brilliant, irresponsible and dynamic.

Born in 1965 in east Sussex, he graduated from journalism college to embark on his first job in the trade on the Wimbledon News in south London.

He soon caught the attention of The Sun editor Kelvin MacKenzie by selling a number of scoops and was made editor of its showbiz column, Bizarre.

He took over as editor of The News Of The World aged 28 in 1994, becoming the youngest national newspaper editor for more than 50 years. Exclusives followed, including the sexual indiscretions of Conservative Minister David Mellor.

Two years later Mr Morgan moved to The Daily Mirror.

Mr Morgan later decided the paper needed to tackle important social issues in a lively, imaginative manner, following in the tradition of legendary Fleet Street editor Hugh Cudlipp.

Mr Morgan won a scoop when he secured the rights to the story of Diana, Princess of Wales’s butler, Paul Burrell. The paper had another world exclusive when undercover reporter Ryan Parry got a job as footman at Buckingham Palace and revealed intimate details of royal life.

With high-profile appearances on television, hosting such programmes as Tabloid Tales and The Importance of Being Famous, he has established himself as a household name.