This Morning host Craig Doyle was acting particularly unusual on air today, and we think we may have the answer as to why.

On the day before he sets of on his summer holidays, the Irish presenter, 52, was on the warpath as he poked fun at guests and even himself at times.

As the show kicked off, Craig explained how he was ready to tap out of work and enjoy his time off, but his next three hours on air made for some pretty interesting television.

His first target was criminologist David Wilson, who was on the programme to speak about the recently released BBC drama The Sixth Commandment.

Spending most of the segment speaking about the case that inspired the show, it was also mentioned that David’s book, A Plot to Kill, offered a deep dive into the shocking crimes of Benjamin Field.

Expressing an interest in picking up a copy, Craig then made a subtle dig by telling the author he’d try to get it on sale.

Craig Doyle was acting slightly strange on This Morning today (Picture: ITV)

‘If your book is in the 2 for 1 sale at the airport tomorrow, I will buy it for my holidays,’ he said.

However, taking his chance to jokingly fire back, David said he’d just give Craig a free copy.

Later in the show, finance expert David Fishwick also had some shade thrown at him.

While heading into an ad break, the hosts ran through what segments were coming up, with David teasing he could help audiences turn a ‘bucket into a Bentley’ by monetising their side hustle.

David Fishwick was the target of an outfit critique by Craig (Picture: ITV)

But it was his choice of outfit that caught Craig’s attention, telling the guest: ‘I’ll tell you what Dave. I don’t know if that button is going to last long my friend.’

‘Sorry but it’s just man-to-man. I feel like it’s just going to pop. Sorry mate, I love Dave though.’

His behaviour only got more bizarre, with Craig pocketing several crystals during a manifestation segment, but later left the studio audience gasping with a rude joke.

During the cross to Loose Women, Coleen Nolan asked Craig and Josie when the last time they ‘master dated’ was.

While she did explain the practice centred on spending some quality time with others, Craig didn’t miss his chance.

‘Now I know what you’re talking about. I master dated for about 45 minutes by myself last night,’ he quipped.

There’s a chance the presenter may have been part of an Ant and Dec prank (Picture: Kieron McCarron/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

As audible gasps could be heard, other members of the studio audience burst into laughter at Craig’s cheeky comment.

‘What? What’s happened,’ he smiled.

‘I took a book with me. I like eating alone. I’m not a weirdo,’ he added.

Last month Saturday Night Takeaway hosts Ant and Dec shared a photo on social media showing work on the upcoming final season of their long-running series was currently underway.

This wouldn’t be the first time the pranksters roped in other presenters to do their dirty work, with their segment I’m a Celebrity … Get Out of Me Ear! previously seeing stars like Louis Walsh given a concealed earpiece and forced to do whatever they are told.

Back in 2014 the former X Factor judge welcomed workmen into his home, showing them a room he had in his home covered with photographs of himself and bigging himself up as the ‘King of Pop’.

At one point in the segment, he even pretended to speak to Dannii Minogue on the phone… but with a banana instead of a handset.

With all signs pointing to something a little fishy playing out on screens today, if our suspicions are wrong, it seems Craig was truly having a bit of a laugh before signing off.

Metro.co.uk has contacted ITV for comment.

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.

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He did not hold back!