Richard Madeley makes awkward blunder on Good Morning Britain over rail strikes

RICHARD Madeley made an awkward blunder on Good Morning Britain as he discussed the nationwide rail strikes today.

The country will grind to a halt today as the RMT launches the biggest walkout since the 1980s.

The TV presenter was commenting on the effects of half the railway network being shut, with predictions roads will be gridlocked.

He told viewers: "Right, it's started. The strikes have begun.

"I drove in this morning, as I always do, and I have to say there was not an extra car on the roads this morning."

"Not yet," his co-host Ranvir Singh pointed out.

Richard drives to the Good Morning Britain studios at around 4.30am - hours before rush-hour.

London Underground trains generally run between 5am and midnight Monday to Saturday, with operating hours slightly reduced on Sunday, meaning those using transport wouldn't yet be travelling.

Realising his oversight, Richard remarked: "Yes, not yet, obviously it's very early, but there was no sign at all of any congestion.

"Not even an extra bicycle on the road."

One viewer complained: "Not an extra car on the road hahahaha not at 04.30."

Hardline union chiefs pulled the plug on last-ditch talks to stop the strike early yesterday afternoon.

They turned down offers to increase railway workers' pay by two per cent now and another one per cent in six months time.

The RMT are demanding inflation-level pay rises, which is set to hit 11 per cent by Christmas.

RMT boss ‘Mad Mick’ Lynch warned the misery has only just begun, saying the rail strike will go on “as long as it needs to” until bosses cave to his eye-watering pay demands.

Furious ministers have accused union barons of inflicting “misery and chaos” on millions with their “callous” three-day action.