Susanna Reid describes 'frustration' at 'reductionist' critics who label her a flirt and focus on her appearance

'What are we saying about women in journalism when we do that?'

Susanna Reid spoke to David Cameron for Good Morning Britain

Susanna Reid has responded to the “reductionist” critics for focusing on her appearance and labeling her a "flirt" during interviews with the Prime Minister and other guests appearing on Good Morning Britain (GMB).

The presenter’s discussion with David Cameron was interpreted as flirting by some, with the Mail Online going so far as to have a body language expert analyse their encounter, who concluded her interviewing technique was “less a Paxman-style interrogation and more 50 Shades flirting".

Reid was also mocked relentlessly by Piers Morgan during his one week stint on the GMB Britain sofa, who read out a tweet live on air suggesting Reid was flirting with him.

She responded to accusations of flirting in an interview with Good Housekeeping by reminding the public that she was and is a consummate professional who should be judged on her work, not on her wardrobe.

“Wearing a dress and chewing a pen is interpreted as something else,” she said. “It’s frustrating – I’m a professional interviewer whose job it is to get the absolute best out of people.

“To then have it described in a different way, feels a bit like, come on, really?”

“But,” she added, "as a woman in the media you have to take that as part of the rough and tumble. It enables you to lay down another layer of thick skin."

Reid went on to criticise the reports that commented on her physical appearance while speaking with Mr Cameron as opposed to analysing the actual discussion.

“It did feel like the wrong focus of the interview," she said. "It’s a little bit reductionist to boil it down to wearing a dress, aka flashing the pins. I don’t choose a particular dress.

“Sometimes you do think, what are we saying about women in journalism when we do that? You have to accept a certain level of scrutiny but does it frustrate me sometimes, of course it does.”