ITV has introduced a luxury VIP toilet for celebrity guests and daytime presenters, including those on Loose Women and This Morning, following budget cuts that previously left some unhappy with shared facilities. The upgraded toilets are a new feature in ITV's new studio, and access is restricted to those granted special passes.
Plush facilities with candles and fresh flowers
The plush facilities come complete with candles, fresh flowers, and essential oil diffusers, offering ITV stars a more glamorous setting. A source told The Sun: "The fancy new loo is the talk of the set because you need a special pass to access it, not just any crew member can waltz in."
"Of course, they want guests to have nice facilities to use when they come in and can’t have people getting changed in meeting rooms," the source added. "There were a few teething problems at the beginning of the year but bosses have done their best to add pockets of opulence to make the surroundings as pleasant and appealing as possible to guests."
Budget cuts and smaller studios
The upgrade follows reports that presenters have been forced to share dressing rooms and communal loos in ITV's new smaller central London studios. Sources said that stars including Christine Lampard, 47, have had to change in meeting rooms, go without a glam team, and take media shots in stairwells due to lack of space.
The Sun on Sunday reported that Lorraine Kelly, 66, was the presenter to have her own toilet in her living room, which is unlike what hosts were used to at the previous West London location that had more space.
Contracts renewed despite show changes
Lorraine and Loose Women's rolling contracts have been renewed until 2027, although they have expressed disappointment after budget cuts saw shows being made shorter and aired less throughout the year. Lorraine previously said: "It’s really rubbish. A lot of my team got made redundant. It was really hard and harder for them. We were very close-knit but it’s all about budget. All television shows are in the same boat, we’re not alone."
According to sources, there is a "positive vibe" backstage, and stars have "settled in" at the new studios.
