Fan-favourite Good Morning Britain host swerves the axe in ITV's cost-cutting bloodbath
The commercial network has announced that it will
5
Good Morning Britain's production will merge with ITV News from January
Credit: RAY BURMISTON
5
Showbiz guru Richard Arnold has been told that his job is safe
Credit: Rex
5
A source revealed that his slots are popular with viewers
Credit: Rex
However, we can now reveal that Good Morning Britain's showbiz guru Richard Arnold will keep his job amid ITV's sweeping changes.
It comes as some 220 workers on the flagship breakfast show, Lorraine, Loose Women and This Morning face redundancies as the channel streamlines operations.
His team - known within the company as 'RAP' for Richard Arnold production - are also all safe.
READ MORE ON GMB
A source said: "Richard is one of ITV daytime's best-loved faces never mind on GMB.
"Viewers enjoy his slots and he remains very much part of the furniture."
The changes are part of
As part of the restructure, Lorraine will be reduced to a 30-minute show whilst Good Morning Britain will be extended by 30 minutes.
Most read in News TV
Lorraine and Loose Women will air for only 30 weeks a year and GMB will be extended by another half an hour in the weeks where Lorraine is off.
As part of the changes, ITV announced that the production of the flagship breakfast show will be transferred to ITV
News
within the ITN base at
Good Morning Britain star reveals they were approached for CBB - and why he turned it down
It has been reported that more than a dozen roles are expected to be cut due to 'certain back office roles' that are duplicated within the teams of GMB and ITV News.
The cuts are expected to save ITV up to £50 million.
Laura Wilshaw, editor of ITV News reportedly sent an email to staff where she revealed that the show would be produced on a "reduced overall budget."
However, she apparently stated that the intention was to continue to "faithfully recreate the Good Morning Britain programme viewers love as much as we can".
ITV's daytime TV schedule changes in full
Good Morning Britain will be extended by 30 minutes to run from 6am to 9.30am daily.
Lorraine will run from 9.30am-10am, on a seasonal basis for 30 weeks of the year.
During the weeks Lorraine is not on air, Good Morning Britain will run from 6am to 10am.
This Morning will remain in its 10am-12.30pm slot on weekdays throughout the year.
Loose Women will be in the 12.30-1.30pm slot, again on a seasonal basis for 30 weeks of the year.
The changes will take effect from January 2026.
This comes as it was revealed that current Deputy Editor Daniel Robinson will step up to be the new programme editor.
Long-serving Editor Neil Thompson will take up a new high-profile role as Commissioning Editor of Breakfast News.
5
His team, known within ITV as RAP - Richard Arnold's Producers - are also safe from the cuts
Credit: Rex
5
GMB will be extended by half an hour once the scheduling changes come into effect
Credit: PA
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
an hour ago
- The Irish Sun
Why Jeff and Freddy Brazier have called an uneasy truce over ban on gran Jackiey – as shock twists behind feud revealed
Read on to find out who the surprising 'peacekeeper' was during the bitter row - and Jeff's shock new legal move FEUD OVER Why Jeff and Freddy Brazier have called an uneasy truce over ban on gran Jackiey – as shock twists behind feud revealed IT is a toxic tale of drug use, 'spying' claims and a ruthlessly aggressive public slanging match that has cast a dark shadow over the legacy of Jade Goody. Today, The Sun can reveal the tense, behind-the-scenes machinations that have seen the late reality star's mum, Jackiey Budden, and the father of her two boys, Jeff Brazier, reach the unlikeliest of ceasefires. Advertisement 8 8 Jeff Brazier has backed down in his efforts to block contact between his youngest son Freddy and his grandmother Jackiey Credit: Instagram/katebrazierpr 8 Devoted Jackiey Budden insists she has only ever been a loving and supportive grandmother to both of her daughter's children Credit: Tiktok 8 Bobby and Freddy came together to support their dad at a London theatre launch last month Credit: Splash In a shock twist, over recent days Jeff has unexpectedly backed down in his efforts to block contact between his youngest son Freddy and the boy's grandmother. Advertisement This Morning star Jeff has quietly dropped his legal case against Jackiey after his son even threatened to flee the UK with his gran. It was this fragile detente that saw Freddy, his Strictly star brother Bobby and their dad put on a surprising show of unity this week at a London theatre launch, where Jeff is appearing in 101 Dalmatians. A source explained: 'Freddy is back living with Jackiey again at her flat in South London, but still spending time with his dad and brother, too. Effectively they've all made peace for the time being and are trying to make things better again, which is doing them the world of good. 'It's actually the perfect outcome for everyone, and exactly what Jade would have wanted. The boys are happier for it, and the constant in-fighting has stopped . . . for now. 'There's no denying that Jackiey and Jeff will never be the best of friends, or even close, but for now it's a peaceful solution. Advertisement 'Granted, she still calls him a 'c**k' to her friends but, crucially, she never bad-mouths Jeff in front of his kids. 'Freddy remains devoted to her — and was threatening to leave the UK to be with his grandmother abroad if Jeff carried on his legal case. 'Even a few weeks ago, it looked as though things would never calm down again and he was still trying to use the courts to keep the two sides of the family apart. 'But the metaphorical white flag has been raised — there is peace.' Angry backlash Details of the bust-up first emerged earlier this year when TV host Jeff began bizarre court proceedings in a bid to block troubled Freddy, 20, from making contact with his grandmother — insisting her frequent cannabis use was a dangerous influence. Advertisement It sparked an angry backlash from the aspiring model, who raged that nothing would stop him from seeing his beloved 'Nanna' — and they were later photographed smoking what appeared to be a cannabis joint together near her Bermondsey home. Days later, Freddy revealed on Instagram he was preparing to check into a Marbella rehab facility in a bid to 'get clean', before making a swift U-turn and claiming: 'I just need a holiday.' He has also launched a series of furious tirades at his father behind the scenes — even accusing Jeff of spying on him and having him trailed by paparazzi to keep an eye on his behaviour — something the TV host fervently denies. Another incident saw his father turn up unannounced at a London hairdressers to confront him about spending time with Jackiey. It is understood Jeff has now parked his plans to pursue legal action, recognising that the expensive legal filings and potential court bid would do little to dissuade his son from contacting Jackiey. Advertisement 8 Freddy posted a TikTok dancing with his gran Jackiey Credit: TikTok/@fredbrazier04 8 Bobby and Freddie were just five and four years old when they lost their mum Jade Credit: Rex Features The pair have long been extremely close, and Freddy has regularly gushed about her important role in his life. But he has also enjoyed a growing relationship with his dad in recent years, including appearing together on TV hit Celebrity Race Across The World, where their quirky but likeable double act proved popular with viewers. Devoted Jackiey has insisted that she has only ever been a loving and supportive grandmother to both of her daughter's children — and said she could never understand Jeff's efforts to divide them. Advertisement She added: 'All these years, I've been the closest thing to their mum.' Meanwhile, Freddy has opened up a new battle after splitting from his girlfriend, Holly Swinburn, following a furious row between the pair, who are now accusing one another of wrong-doing in a dispute, with each threatening to escalate the row by involving the police. In June, Freddy was spotted on a date with influencer Natasha Newcombe. Jade, who shot to fame in Big Brother in 2002, passed away in 2009 aged just 27 after a harrowing battle with cervical cancer. The run-up to her death, broadcast and documented in painful detail, gripped the nation and brought a surge in cancer screenings dubbed the 'Jade Goody effect'. Advertisement Before she passed away, she begged Jeff to take care of her two sons, then aged just five and four. He has always insisted he tried to do the right thing by them, often in private, steering them away from the spotlight in their early years. But the tension between him and Jackiey — Jade's eccentric and outspoken mum — has simmered ever since. Jackiey, a former drug addict who raised Jade alone, was known for her brash style and fiery public appearances, including a famously awkward stint on Celebrity Big Brother alongside Jade in 2007. Storm has calmed She claims she has been unfairly sidelined over the years and struggled to maintain a consistent presence in her grandsons' lives due to her feud with their father. Advertisement Freddy's older brother Bobby, now 21, has taken a different path, enjoying a rise from quiet teenager to Strictly finalist and EastEnders heart-throb. He has largely kept his distance from the drama and maintained a diplomatic relationship with both sides of the family, having instead devoted his time to the Hare Krishna movement after becoming involved with the religion in recent years. He was seen this week wearing the group's trademark orange outfit in central London as he took part in one of their rituals. Insiders say Bobby has acted as a 'peacekeeper' during the row, urging his dad and gran to let Freddy make his own choices — and speaking regularly to each of his relatives. A friend said: 'Bobby's had a lot on his plate with work but he is close to Freddy and just wants everyone to get on for his sake. He misses Jade every day and knows that she wouldn't want this fighting.' Advertisement 8 In June, Freddy was spotted on a date with influencer Natasha Newcombe Credit: 8 Freddy's older brother Bobby has enjoyed a rise from quiet teenager to Strictly finalist and EastEnders heart-throb Credit: PA For now, it seems the storm has calmed, but whether the peace holds is another matter. The boys remain at the heart of their late mother's legacy, and will soon be the beneficiaries of a trust fund left to them, with instructions that it could not be accessed until they reached their mid-twenties — except for education and healthcare. As one insider adds: 'They're growing up fast and have so many opportunities. Advertisement 'And soon they will get the money Jade left for them too, which should give them the strong start in their adult life she always wanted for them. 'Hopefully the peace holds, but when it comes to Jackiey and Jeff, the next fallout could easily be just around the corner.'
The Irish Sun
3 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
The 1% Club's difficult word question causes final two players to miss out on huge jackpot – but did you get it right?
A TRICKY word question on The 1% Club saw two players miss out on a huge jackpot - but could you get it right? Lee Mack hosts the ITV quiz, renowned for its challenging brainteasers. 4 Could you work out this tricky question on The 1% Club? Credit: ITV 4 Lee Mack hosts the popular ITV game show Credit: ITV 4 Contestant Phil had a crack at the tricky final question Credit: ITV Contestants who reach the final round - the 1% question - have a chance to win up to £100,000. One episode saw three people reach the very end - Victoria, Phil and Anne. Victoria opted to take her share of £10,000, while the other two decided to play for the £99,000 jackpot. The question was: "All the words in this list have something specific in common. What is it?" Meanwhile, the four words were: Into, Therefore, Evaluate and Benign. Anne shared she'd answered that all four words "had names in them". As for Phil, he'd gone with that all four contained two words - but then ruled this out due to benign. Unfortunately for the pair, both of them turned out to be incorrect and lost out on the prize. Lee revealed: "They all end with the sound of a number - two, four, eight and nine." It's not the first time contestants have been left flummoxed on The 1% Club. The 1% Club knocks out 25 players with a deceptively easy question On another occasion, a whopping 25 people were knocked out on a counting question. An image popped up on to the big screen that showed a brick wall with golden bricks, but some of the bricks in the middle were missing. The question asked: "How many bricks are missing from this wall?" As the 30 seconds ticked down, Lee quipped: "Where are Pink Floyd when you need them." The puzzle appeared to be just a simple matter of counting. However, after the time was up it was revealed that a whopping 25 people had got it wrong, wiping themselves out of the competition and leaving 70 competitors remaining. But were you able to work out the correct answer? It was later revealed to be 12. The 1% Club airs on ITV1 and ITVX.
The Irish Sun
4 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Two queens of British TV join forces for thrilling new ITV drama
Meanwhile, Adrian Dunbar is hoping to do a TV travelogue with a Line of Duty co-star TEAMING UP Two queens of British TV join forces for thrilling new ITV drama SURANNE JONES and Jodie Whittaker have teamed up for a thrilling new heist drama called Frauds. The two queens of the small screen star as duo Bert and Sam, whose intertwined past resurfaces in the setting of Southern Spain after a decade of separation. 4 Suranne Jones and Jodie Whittaker have teamed up for a thrilling new heist drama called Frauds Credit: ITV 4 Suranne, pictured in Doctor Foster, are pals in the series Credit: BBC Press Handout 4 Jodie as Doctor Who Credit: BBC Bert, played by Suranne, is fresh from a spell in a Spanish prison but hellbent on one final, multi-million-pound art heist so calls on old pal Sam (Whittaker). The six-parter, which will air later this year on ITV, was filmed in Spain in January and also stars Karan Gill, Christian Cooke and Talisa Garcia. It was created by Suranne and Maryland's Anne-Marie O'Connor, who wrote the script. Suranne said: 'We took the idea of toxic female friendship and turned it on its head to give the heist genre an emotional heartbeat. "I have always wanted to work with Jodie, and now I am. I hope you love Bert and Sam and all they get up to as much as we do." LoD PALS ARE TREK MATES? 4 Adrian Dunbar is hoping to do a TV travelogue with his Line of Duty co-star Neil Morrissey Credit: ITV Handout ADRIAN DUNBAR is hoping to do a TV travelogue with his Line of Duty co-star Neil Morrissey. The pair – pals since drama school 40 years ago – filmed an episode of ITV's DNA Journey together in 2023, which saw them tour the UK exploring their family histories. Adrian told the White Wine Question Time podcast: 'Hopefully we might get on the road again, because we have such a good time together. Of Line Of Duty returning he said: 'We're all kind of waiting on the BBC to say 'Yay, it's all happening, let's go'. They'll make some kind of statement sometime. But he admitted: 'I'll need to lose a bit of weight to get back into the uniform.'
