a day ago
Loose Women pulled from screens in ANOTHER blow to cut-ravaged ITV show - as host makes urgent plea to fans
Loose Women might be a daytime TV fan favourite, but it is the latest show to be pulled from screens amid widespread cuts at ITV.
The popular talk show will not air on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week and will instead be replaced by a repeat of James Martin 's Great British Adventure from 2019 at 12:30pm on Wednesday.
The show sees the popular chef travel to Northern Ireland, where he teams up with local chef Paul Rankin to cook up a storm.
This will be followed by a news bulletin before the York races are aired from 1.30pm until 4.30pm, with a similar schedule also in place for Thursday and Friday.
Viewers were warned of the change on Tuesday by comedian Lee Peat, the show's warmup act for the live audience, who typically does not feature on screen.
Lee said: 'Lines close on Friday and I will saw, this is actually the last Loose Women of the week, so get your entry in if you want to do that!'
Host Christine Lampard went on to assure viewers that Loose Women would be returning to its usual schedule on Monday, August 25.
While it has been reported that it is not unusual for Loose Women to end early during racing season, the scheduled races this week are notably taking place after the programme has usually finished.
This week's cut comes after it was announced that the show would no longer be running for 52 weeks of the year and instead be on screen for just 30 in a bid to cut costs.
Changing viewing habits, including an increased reliance on streaming services, have forced ITV to make some difficult decisions in a bid to remain profitable and keep some of the UK's most beloved shows on air.
Other shows that have been affected by cuts at the broadcaster include Good Morning Britain and Lorraine.
Good Morning Britain will now run for an extra half an hour to reduce Lorraine's slot from one hour to 30 minutes.
Like Loose Women, Lorraine will now air for just 30 weeks a year, and when it is not on, it will be replaced by an even longer edition of Good Morning Britain, which will run from 6am to 10am.
Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV 's Media and Entertainment Division, stressed that 'daytime is a really important part of what we do.'
The popular talkshow will not air on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday this week and instead be replaced by a repeat of James Martin 's Great British Adventure from 2019 at 12:30pm on Wednesday
The Managing Director continued: 'These scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well as generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.
'These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever.'
News of the cut comes after Denise Welch was forced to apologise on air for Janet Street Porter's remark that the late actor Terrence Stamp was a 'bore' after his death on Sunday.
She said: 'Me and Terry Stamp had lunch. I remember I was so excited, I was so looking forward to it. What can I tell you ladies - he was the most boring bloke.
