Lorraine Kelly has candidly opened up about her ITV morning show being drastically cut back, revealing that the budget reductions have 'worked out really well' despite initial shock. The 66-year-old television icon, who has been a familiar presence on ITV for decades, saw her one-hour slot reduced to just half an hour earlier this year. Additionally, her programme now runs for only 30 weeks annually, while Good Morning Britain extends into This Morning for the rest of the year.
Lorraine's Honest Reaction to the Cuts
Speaking to Radio Times, Kelly admitted she is 'absolutely not' angry about the changes. 'I'm not bothered about my fat face being on the telly. My fat face has been on the telly for 42 years, and I think we're fine,' she said. While the cuts were 'a bit of a shock' at first, she noted that 'actually it's worked out really well. I'm still there, doing what I love, but [the extra free time] has opened up a whole new world.'
More Time for Family and Writing
Kelly explained that the reduced schedule allows her to spend more time with her granddaughter, Billie, whom she called 'human sunshine.' She also said her free time means she can now concentrate on writing 'instead of trying to fit it in at one o'clock in the morning.'
No Plans to Retire
Despite the cuts, Kelly has no plans to retire. Talking to The Mirror last year, she stated: 'I don't see me going anywhere until people get fed up, you know? Until people say, I've had enough of that one.' She added: 'I am going to be toddling off that show in my Zimmer frame and even then, I'll be coming in.'
Concern for Her Team
Kelly expressed that her first thought was for her team affected by the cuts. She told the publication: 'It's really heartbreaking to split up the team, a lot of my team have been with me for more than 20 years and they're my friends. I've grown up with them. They were babies when they started with me and now they've got babies of their own.'
Lorraine airs on ITV at 9:30am from Monday to Friday.
