Following news that the UK’s last lion tamer is fighting circus extinction after animal campaigners called for it to be banned, Thomas Chipperfield - who is part of a family that have toured big cats for generations - spoke live from inside a cage with a lion in Swansea.
Trying to prove that his big cats were happy, he went to kiss the lion.
But the stunt went very wrong when the beautiful animal roared at him angrily, before running off - much to the shock of This Morning’s Phillip Schofield and Amanda Holden.
"Thomas, I've got to ask you that question again as the lion did not appear to love you…” began Phillip sternly.
“Why do you do this? Why is it not free or in a zoo?"
Clearly rattled by the question, Thomas snapped: “First I would like to apologise for that, I did arrange with your crew to get the heads up on that sooner.
“I do it because I love working with these animals. They have their off days, like we all do.”
Amanda, who works alongside the Born Free Foundation, replied: "The argument is that they shouldn't be kept in an enclosure... wild animals are always going to be wild.
"If you were kept in a cage for days on end, you'd be feeling very claustrophobic and like a prisoner."
However, Thomas claimed there was evidence that “circus animals suffer less physical and emotional stress than any other environment in captivity”.
He then slammed Amanda for her work on the 2006 - 2008 television series Wild At Heart, which featured lions, saying: "I'm sorry to have to argue with you on this... forgive me but that is a double standard on your part."
After the debate became heated, Phillip stepped in to play devil’s advocate… and Amanda felt forced to apologise.
She said: “Sorry, I know I should just keep my mouth shut sometimes.”
We thought she tackled the situation like a true lioness!