Jeremy Vine faces viewer backlash after 'suggesting invading Russian soldiers deserve to die'

Broadcaster Jeremy Vine faced a backlash from viewers after suggesting Russian soldiers 'deserve to die' for taking part in the invasion of Ukraine.

During his Channel Five talk show on Monday, the presenter gave his opinion on the ongoing events - and ended up offending many watching.

Jeremy hosted a discussion for the general public to phone in and posed them the question: "Would you go and fight Ukraine?"

After speaking to a few who had called in, a man named Bill from Manchester decided to voice his opinion on the invasion, reports the Daily Express.

Jeremy asked Bill: "What is your problem with fighting Russians if they have invaded Ukraine? What is your problem with doing that?"

Referring to World War Two, Bill said: "Russia were our allies. The people of Russia are not our enemies.

"I don't think they are the enemies, quite a number of those Russians you will probably find will go across and hold their hands up this morning not wanting to fight the Ukrainians.

"They were told lies by Putin surprisingly!" he added but before Bill could continue, Jeremy interrupted and said: "That's then, this is now.

"The brutal reality is you put on a uniform for Putin, and you go and fight his war, you probably deserve to die, don't you?"

Shocked at the bold statement, Bill exclaimed: "Do you? Do kids deserve to die? 18, 20-year-olds called up and inscribed?

"They don't understand it, that is the brutality of war, and we never learn from that!"

Jeremy plainly replied: "That's life, that's the way it goes, I know, but if you are Ukrainian, the answer is yes."

Viewers of the Channel 5 show were appalled at the comments he made and took to Twitter to express their annoyance.

@JeanieThePixie said: "He's just insensitive & tactless.