Television veteran Lorraine Kelly is battling to secure the future of her long-running ITV show amid sweeping budget cuts across the network’s daytime programming.
At 65, the presenter faces significant changes to her flagship programme, Lorraine, which has been trimmed back as part of ITV’s broader cost-saving measures. According to insiders, Kelly’s show will now air just 30 weeks a year, down from its year-round schedule, and each episode will be halved in length from 60 minutes to just 30.
A source close to the production told The Mail: “Lorraine was not happy about what is happening and also had concern for the production team, which will be cut back too.”
They added, “She has to roll her sleeves up and work harder on her show than she has in recent years, otherwise the long-term future does not look good.”
While Kelly has been a mainstay of ITV for four decades—appearing on GMTV, Good Morning Britain, and leading her own show since 2010—insiders suggest that now more than ever, she needs to prove her programme’s value.
“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,” the source said.
Kelly was reportedly informed of the changes during a private and tense meeting with ITV bosses ahead of a wider staff briefing. As part of her commitment to preserving the show’s future, she will now work five days a week, after previously stepping back from hosting Friday episodes. Those shows had been fronted by Christine Lampard and Ranvir Singh in her absence.
The cuts come at a difficult time for ITV. During a company-wide meeting last Tuesday, it was revealed that half of the 440 daytime production staff will be let go. While Kelly has only recently returned to work following surgery to remove her ovaries—a topic she openly discussed on air—her future now hinges on keeping viewer engagement strong.
Despite the turbulence, the show continues to deliver robust numbers. A source from the programme shared: “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.”
Other daytime staples, including Loose Women and Good Morning Britain, are also facing cuts. However, one figure seen as safe is GMB’s Susanna Reid. “She is someone ITV want to build the show around,” a source confirmed.
An ITV spokesperson declined to comment on specific staffing changes but said: “Our intention is to keep our daytime shows as familiar to viewers as possible, which includes seeing presenters they know and love.”
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