Significant tensions are reportedly escalating at ITV's new daytime television studio in central London due to severe space constraints, forcing high-profile presenters to share dressing rooms and communal toilet facilities. The situation has emerged following a major relocation of three flagship programmes to a smaller, underground studio complex in Covent Garden as part of extensive cost-cutting measures.
Studio Downsizing Creates Logistical Challenges
Last month, ITV implemented substantial restructuring that resulted in approximately 200 staff redundancies and the relocation of Lorraine, This Morning, and Loose Women to a more compact studio facility. This consolidation means all three programmes now operate from a single studio space, which has already led to Loose Women losing its live studio audience component entirely.
Presenters Face Shared Facilities
According to insider reports, prominent presenters including Cat Deeley, Ben Shephard, Dermot O'Leary, Alison Hammond, Ruth Langsford, and Kaye Adams are all compelled to share dressing room spaces and use communal bathroom facilities. The only exception appears to be veteran presenter Lorraine Kelly, who at 66 years old maintains her own private toilet within her dressing room area.
An anonymous source revealed to The Sun newspaper: 'There have been quite a lot of issues since the team's relocation to the new smaller studios. As well as the cramped space, presenters have had to give up their personal dressing rooms and loos. Lorraine is the only one who has her own private throne. But even she has to share it, with guests frequently popping in.'
Additional Operational Difficulties
The space limitations have created various operational challenges beyond shared facilities. The source indicated that presenter Christine Lampard was recently forced to change clothing in a meeting room due to dressing room shortages, while technical issues have plagued the building's lift system, causing frequent breakdowns that disrupt normal operations.
ITV's Official Response
When contacted by Daily Mail regarding these reports, an ITV spokesperson presented a contrasting perspective: 'ITV daytime have been at the new state-of-the-art multi-storey studios for over a month now and have adapted to the new surroundings successfully. The new space and look is on the back of an increase in audience share year on year and digital output achieving almost 50 million views a month. There is a positive vibe across all three of the shows.'
Broader Relocation Context
This studio relocation forms part of a broader restructuring across ITV's daytime programming. Good Morning Britain has also been relocated from Television Centre to ITN's headquarters, where it now shares studio facilities with ITV News programming. This move has prompted commentary from presenter Ranvir Singh, who recently described the show as feeling 'splintered' following significant staff departures.
Singh elaborated in an interview with The Express: 'I have to say, whatever you do personally in your career doesn't really equate to the difficulties that colleagues of mine behind the scenes have clearly felt. I have said a fond farewell to lots of people I've worked with for over ten years, who have got up at the crack of dawn and worked in all the different departments.'
She acknowledged that despite personnel changes, the programme continues to perform well in ratings: 'A lot of those have stayed, because we're still doing really well, the figures are great for Good Morning Britain and we're doing well, but it has been a big change. Nothing you do personally, obviously, that's great, but you still miss the people that you have loved working with for over a decade on breakfast television.'
The consolidation of ITV's daytime programming into smaller facilities represents a significant operational shift for one of Britain's leading broadcasters, balancing cost efficiencies against the practical working conditions for its on-screen talent and production teams.
