Lorraine Kelly taking 'extreme measures' to save show's future amid ITV bloodbath
Lorraine Kelly is willing to 'pull out all the stops' to save her ITV programme amid the recent announcement that her airtime is being halved, according to insiders.
Lorraine Kelly is reportedly fighting to save the future of her long-term ITV show. Sources claim that the 65-year-old Scots presenter will have to "pull out all the stops" for the programme, which is facing major cuts, to survive.
Lorraine will not only air 30 weeks of the year with episodes cut down from an hour to 30 minutes going forward. An insider said: 'Lorraine was not happy about what is happening and also had concern for the production team which will be cut back too.
'But the truth is she has to roll her sleeves up and work harder on her own show than she has in recent years, otherwise the long-term future does not look good. She has been an icon of ITV but serious cuts need to be made and her show has been cut to just 30 minutes, which after ad breaks will be a very short chunk of time.
"She needs to show bosses it is worth keeping on air. You can expect her to be pulling hard to get big name celebrities on her show instead of GMB or This Morning."
Lorraine was informed her show was being cut back during a tense private meeting with bosses and will now need to work five days a week to be in with a chance of keeping her programme on air long term.
ITV staff working on daytime were told in a meeting on Tuesday that half of the 440 production are going to be let go, the Mirror reports.
However, boss Kevin Lygo arranged for Lorraine to be told separately in the days before.
Lorraine has been a regular face on screens for 40 years, appearing on GMTV and Good Morning Britain before she started her own show in 2010.
However, she has recently not been hosting Friday episodes, with Christine Lampard and Ranvir Singh filling in.
Last week Lorraine returned to the screen after undergoing surgery to remove her ovaries, which she discussed on screen.
During her on and off absence, the show's audience numbers are said to have peaked as an insider said: 'February, March and April celebrated the highest viewing figures for three years. The show reaches 1.1 million every day and 2.7 million every week.'
The ITV cuts will also impact other daytime shows, with Loose Women rumoured to be losing up to 10 of its 29 panellists.
Good Morning Britain is also facing cuts but one contestant who is said to be safe is Susanna Reid.
A source said: 'She is someone ITV want to build the show around and is seen as an essential part of daytime. She is 100% safe from the cuts.'
Hundreds of staff are now in a consultation process at ITV. A spokesman said: 'At a time when our daytime teams are undergoing a period of change we will not comment on speculation around talent or staff contracts.
'Our intention is to keep our daytime shows as familiar to viewers as possible which includes seeing presenters they know and love.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Metro
2 hours ago
- Metro
Emmerdale horror as legend's child is found with sleeping tablets
A village youth is in danger (Picture: ITV) The daughter of Emmerdale legend Paddy Kirk's (Dominic Brunt) life is at risk when she's discovered with an open bottle of sleeping pills. Little Eve Dingle (Bella James) becomes collateral damage as granddad Bear Wolf (Joshua Richards) continues to struggle with his insomnia. Emmerdale boss Laura Shaw hinted that Bear would be at the heart of a surprising storyline earlier this month, telling a press conference: 'He's going to go off screen for a little while and go missing.' She continued: 'And when he comes back, what you'll see is a very different Bear in a really different situation and we're all going to be watching saying 'what the hell has happened here?''. While the exact circumstances surrounding Bear's 'disappearance' remain to be seen, it's likely to tie into his sudden insomnia. But this spells danger for Eve, who leaves Paddy horrified when he and Mandy Dingle (Lisa Riley) find her with Bear's freshly prescribed sleeping pills. Paddy is worried about dad Bear (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock) With Bear still suffering from insomnia, Paddy and Mandy persuade him to go and see Doctor Liam (Jonny McPherson). Returning home, he promises Eve some sweets if she stays quiet. She agrees, and he heads out. Growing bored, Eve sneaks into the kitchen where she finds Bear's box of sleeping tablets… Mandy and Paddy are horrified to find Eve's been at Bear's pills (Picture: ITV) Later, Mandy and Paddy wake up after an accidental nap. They're terrified when they see that Eve's been at Bear's box of pills while they were sleeping. Is Eve about to be taken seriously ill? Bear joined the soap in 2019 (Picture: ITV/Shutterstock) With Bear's storyline only just beginning, this will likely herald his promised 'disappearance' from the village. He's been keeping a low profile in recent months, living at Tenants with Paddy, Mandy and Liam – all seemingly forgiven since he discovered that Mandy's side-hustle as a financial dominatrix. Will he be able to forgive himself in anything happens to Eve? And what will happen to him in his upcoming absence? If you've got a soap or TV story, video or pictures get in touch by emailing us soaps@ – we'd love to hear from you. Join the community by leaving a comment below and stay updated on all things soaps on our homepage. Arrow MORE: ITV star joins Emmerdale as mysterious new farmer Celia – and a brutal attack follows Arrow MORE: Emmerdale legend makes plea to be in Coronation Street crossover: 'Imagine the potential' Arrow MORE: 10 character interactions that need to happen in Coronation Street and Emmerdale crossover
South Wales Guardian
4 hours ago
- South Wales Guardian
Sam Thompson raises more than £100,000 on first day of Soccer Aid challenge
On Monday, the 32-year-old set off from Chelsea's Stamford Bridge stadium in London, the location of last year's charity match in aid of Unicef, and ran a full marathon before cycling a further 23 miles to reach Milton Keynes. He will end the challenge at Manchester United's Old Trafford, which will host the 2025 game that Thompson is due to play in. Speaking at the day one finish line in Buckinghamshire, Thompson said: 'Day one was terrifying. I can't believe I did it. I was so worried that no one would turn up for me, but as I started to approach the stadium and the finish line, I could hear the cheering. 'I started to get emotional. It means so much to me that people turned out. 'It's been tougher than I could have imagined and there were points when I was really struggling. 'I was in a lot of pain after the marathon, but before I started the bike I was checked over by the physio and medical team, just to make sure I was fit enough to carry on. 'I'm taking one step at a time, one pedal at a time, but I'm going to find a way to make it to the finish and stay focused on why I'm doing this. 'It's to raise as much money for Unicef as we can – to support the incredible work they do for children around the world. That's what this is all about.' A post shared by Sam Thompson (@samthompsonuk) Thompson ran 26 miles towards Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire, where he then cycled 23 miles further to the first finish line at MK Dons's Stadium MK ground in Milton Keynes. The I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! winner, who has so far raised £100,603.46 for Unicef, was joined by This Morning's Ben Shephard for part of the cycling leg. TV presenter Shephard, 50, said: 'I think Sam is incredibly brave and courageous taking on a challenge like this. I've done some physical ultra-marathons and I know that it takes its toll. 'Mentally it's a really tough battle because for five days he's got to run five marathons then having finished, jump on the bike on top of that. 'What I know and love about Sam is his enthusiasm, his energy and his positivity and that is going to be tested to his absolute limit. 'He's going to have to draw on all of his experience of meeting the children in Guatemala that inspired him with their joy that got them through all sorts of really difficult things in their lives. 'Sam's got the biggest heart and despite the pain he's going to be going through, I can't wait to see him cross that finish line on Friday and get that ball to Old Trafford.' Thompson was joined at the start line by his sister Louise Thompson, her partner Ryan Libbey, his nephew Leo, and comedian Joel Dommett, who ran with him for the first 20km. From Stadium MK, Thompson will travel to Aston Villa's Villa Park in Birmingham, then on to Port Vale's Vale Park in Stoke-on-Trent, then to Everton's Goodison Park in Liverpool, before finishing at Old Trafford. A post shared by Soccer Aid for UNICEF (@socceraid) His journey will be broadcast live on ITV's This Morning and Hits Radio each day, with the star due to arrive at the finish line on Friday June 6. The challenge, which sees him running five marathons and cycling over 130 miles, will also feature in a one-off documentary on ITV1, Sam Thompson's Match Ball Mission, which will air in the lead-up to Soccer Aid for Unicef. Thompson is taking on the challenge to raise money for Unicef's work to help children grow up safe and healthy. Soccer Aid 2025 will take place on Sunday June 15, at Old Trafford, and will be broadcast live on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
How Cat Deeley's 'casual' and 'daring' dress sense is causing a stir with This Morning viewers as she takes a style departure from the traditionally buttoned-up breakfast host look
From knee-high boots, glamorous halternecks and risqué cut-out jumpers to silky blouses and wide-leg jeans... it's safe to say that Cat Deeley's This Morning wardrobe is quite different to her predecessor Holly Willoughby's. Prior to leaving her role of 14 years, Phillip Schofield 's co-star was famed for her eternally revolving wardrobe of demure dresses and cute pencil skirts - typically accompanied by tights and sophisticated heels. But Cat, 48, has ditched such formal styles and opted for a more relaxed approach. One of her first ensembles when joining Ben Shephard on the ITV Daytime show was a pair of skinny jeans, an almost unfathomable fashion faux pas during Holly's tenure. The stiletto heels were also ditched, with the Birmingham host leaving them to collect dust in the dressing room while she presented the show in knee-high leather boots. Viewers initially appeared to give such down-to-earth looks a positive thumbs up across social media, with one commenting: 'Love Cat's outfit, definitely a combo we can all relate to,' while another added: 'I'm liking Ben and Cat's more relaxed look...' However, lately, Cat's casual wardrobe has raised eyebrows as she embraces more revealing garments - including halternecks, one-shouldered tops and daring cut-outs. The adventurous looks are a far cry from the more formal attire usually sported by breakfast presenters, with the likes of Ruth Langsford, Alison Hammond and Lorraine Kelly preferring a uniform of midi dresses, blazers and smart blouses. On Monday, This Morning fans suggested Cat's outfit, featuring an elegant black, sleeveless top that was clasped together in a cross at the front paired with sleek red trousers, was more for a 'night out or a beach bar'. The TV star - who's married to presenter Patrick Kielty - accessorised with gold jewellery and wore her hair down in loose waves. However, the stylish outfit failed to impress some fans, who felt it looked 'unprofessional' for daytime programme. Taking to X, one viewer wrote: 'Cat obviously still in her clothes from a night out #thismorning,' while another added: 'Cat - you're not having a day at the beach love. Dress like a professional at work. #thismorning.' While someone else penned: 'Has Cat come straight from a beach bar? Bizarre choice of outfit #ThisMorning.' '#ThisMorning Cat looks like she's been out lol,' a fourth viewer wrote. Back in April, This Morning fans were once again left seriously distracted by Cat 's striking outfit. Many gasped 'what is she wearing?!' just minutes into the show as the 48-year-old and co-host Ben interviewed Deepa Paul, who has written a book about navigating her life with a husband and boyfriend. While Deepa opened up about her relationship to the pair on the sofa, many were left distracted by Cat's chosen footwear. The presenter opted for a white and green long-sleeved mini dress with a pair of tan-coloured Isabel Marant Lophie canvas knee-high boots folded down. Many rushed to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their thoughts on chosen footwear. 'What is Cat wearing on her feet? #thismorning,' questioned one fan, while others asked: 'What are those?' and 'Why has Cat got paper bags tied around her ankles #thismorning.' 'I have just noticed Cat is wearing the Scarecrows boots from the Wizard of Oz! #thismorning,' another person joked. Cat was last seen wearing the shoes on the programme during an episode in May 2024. The star looked incredible in a stylish cargo minidress and quirky rope knee high boots as she hosted the show. It's not the first time that fans have rushed to social media to discuss Cat's outfit choices. The previous month, viewers claimed the TV star was 'showing more skin than usual' as she sported a stylish knitted £29.50 M&S off-the-shoulder top with wide-legged trousers. One unimpressed fan posted on X: 'Will someone dress Cat with decent clothing.' Another said: 'Cat, straighten your top.' Just weeks before that others pointed out her striking two-piece androgynous suit, which she wore with a white shirt and a grey tie with a pearly white pin. Viewers initially appeared to give such down-to-earth looks a positive thumbs up across social media, with one commenting: 'Love Cat's outfit, definitely a combo we can all relate to,' while another added: 'I'm liking Ben and Cat's more relaxed look...' The presenter pictured wearing a white and green long-sleeved mini dress with a pair of tan coloured Isabel Marant Lophie canvas knee-high boots folded down Cat's low-budget wardrobe has been praised by fans; on one of the presenter's Instagram posts of her outfits, which she captioned with the hashtag 'Cat's Closet', a viewer commented: 'Love your looks, a lot more affordable than others'. The statement ensemble divided opinions, with one person writing online: 'Has Cat got a job interview later?,' while another said: 'Who on earth is styling Cat Deeley?! #ThisMorning.' However, not everyone was against the outfit, as they took to X to applaud her look. 'Blimey! Cat means business this morning #thismorning,' wrote one fan. 'Can Cat Deeley wear suits more on This Morning please', insisted another, while a third added: 'I'm obviously in the minority, but think Cat looks great in her suit. Love that look and she carries it off beautifully'. Even Cat's co-star Ben has previously questioned the host's wardrobe after she appeared on screen in March last year wearing a pair of brown floral printed flared trousers, which he compared to 'an old sofa.' Speaking ahead of her show, Lorraine cut to the This Morning studio to ask what they had coming up. Ben joked: 'Can we just enjoy the extraordinariness of Cat Deeley's trousers today? She's gone into her mum's caravan and nicked the curtains!' 'That's so rude, we're not making Sound of Music, you know!' she hit back. 'We could, though!' Ben responded. Later on Ben took the opportunity to compare Cat's trousers to a sofa, with some viewers agreeing. One fan even insisted on X: 'Sack the stylist. Cat's outfit is horrendous.' Unlike Holly, who used her private stylist Danielle Whiteman on the show, Cat uses ITV's own fashion experts David O'Brien and Rachael Hughes, who have also dressed her co-stars Josie Gibson and Alison Hammond. While her predecessor favoured designer items, Cat has won fans over by wearing brands such as Zara and John Lewis . Holly and her stylist have worked together for years and Ms Whiteman now helps the TV star's lifestyle brand Wylde Moon. During her 14 years on This Morning, Holly would regularly wear clothing from the likes of Ted Baker, LK Bennett and Jaeger. But Cat's low-budget wardrobe has been praised by fans; on one of the presenter's Instagram posts of her outfits, which she captioned with the hashtag 'Cat's Closet', a viewer commented: 'Love your looks, a lot more affordable than others'.
