It's actually simple. If the journalist does their job and presses them, it will end up embarrassing them on live TV and they simply will not return to be interviewed on that channel. So the editors/producers dissuade the journalist form asking tough questions to ensure the guest will return to their platform.
It is why Health Secretary Matt Hancock refused for the entire year to be interviews on GMB because it was Piers Morgan hosting and thus why ITV were very annoyed with Piers for most of 2020 and now he's gone!
It's actually simple. If the journalist does their job and presses them, it will end up embarrassing them on live TV and they simply will not return to be interviewed on that channel. So the editors/producers dissuade the journalist form asking tough questions to ensure the guest will return to their platform.
It is why Health Secretary Matt Hancock refused for the entire year to be interviews on GMB because it was Piers Morgan hosting and thus why ITV were very annoyed with Piers for most of 2020 and now he's gone!