Alison Hammond’s approach left viewers with mixed opinions (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

This Morning viewers have been left divided by Alison Hammond’s approach to Rishi Sunak, with some arguing she was ‘fawning’ over him, while others praised her questioning.

The Prime Minister made an appearance on the sofa on Thursday, as Alison and Craig Doyle stepped in, replacing Holly Willoughby during her early half term break and Phillip Schofield after he stepped down from the role.

During the segment, Mr Sunak spoke about immigration figures, the new NHS app, and exposed his love for Jilly Cooper books.

As he addressed illegal migration, Alison interrupted to directly ask: ‘But is it out of control do you think at the moment?’

Elsewhere, the Great British Bake Off host addressed Suella Braverman’s speeding ticket, following the news that the home secretary wouldn’t be sacked after being accused of breaching the ministerial code by asking taxpayer-funded civil servants to help with a private matter.

As the discussion grew tense over the matter, Alison questioned whether Mr Sunak had ‘let her off the hook’.

He replied: ‘Sadly politics is full of these types of things [distractions] but Alison, I haven’t let her off the hook, I’ve gone through the details of what happened.

‘But no, she didn’t [break the rules] and I’ve spent time going through it and I’ve also asked my independent advisor who has also met with her and she’s made a fulsome disclosure of what happened.

Rishi Sunak appeared on the This Morning sofa (Picture: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)

‘She’s expressed regret and the point is, she took advice. She herself has said she would’ve done things differently in hindsight and that’s the right approach, she apologised and on the basis of that, the independent advisors have said there’s no need for a formal investigation and we can close the matter here.’

He added: ‘Look, ultimately she took the points, she paid the fine as she should have done… she’s made a full account of it, she’s apologised and it’s right to draw a line under it now.’

The trio also spoke about Mr Sunak’s children, the public’s trust, and teacher’s strikes.

As the interview continued, viewers were left divided over Alison’s questioning, with some accusing her of ‘fawning’ over the leader of the Conservative party.

One wrote: ‘Could Alison Hammond have been any more fawning over Rishi? #thismorning OK, it was never going to be a grilling, but honestly, you might have just as well have asked “what’s your favourite colour?” Etc.’

Recalling one of Alison’s questions on what made the Prime Minister cry, to which he indicated it was something to do with his children, another viewer blasted: ‘When did Rishi Sunak last cry? Why didn’t Alison Hammond ask when was the last time he thought about how many times people around the UK have cried, every time they look in their food cupboards? Don’t even watch This Morning and I feel riled up.’

Another fumed: ‘If this Sunak interview proves one thing Alison Hammond should not be a main a presenter on This Morning.’