Good Morning Britain is saying goodbye to a long-standing and beloved member of its team, as Andi Peters announced the departure of series director Stuart Earl live on air.
Peters, a former kids’ TV presenter who regularly hosts the competition segment on ITV’s flagship daily news programme, shared the news during Monday morning’s show. In the studio, hosts Susanna Reid and Ed Balls had spent the morning discussing topics ranging from Andy Burnham becoming prime minister to interviews with Liverpool Mayor Steve Rotherham and former GMB host Piers Morgan.
After a non-political chat with musical theatre legend Dame Elaine Paige, the pair turned to Peters for the day’s competition. Presenting live from Wisley in Surrey, Peters announced that this week marked the departure of series director Stuart Earl, who has worked on Good Morning Britain for 10 years.
Peters Announces Departure Live
After telling viewers that they could text in to enter GMB’s daily competition, Peters added: “Now, Susanna and Ed, interestingly I’ve got to send one text as well today. It’s to our director Stuart.”
Peters explained that today was “my last day working with him”, before joking to Reid and Balls: “You two, unfortunately, have got two more days!” Pretending to type, Peters said: “‘Stuart, love you lots! Been a great 10 years. Good luck, Stuart. Thank the lord I’m not doing Tuesday and Wednesday live, so I don’t have to work with you.’” The presenter then ran away, leaving Balls and Reid looking slightly bewildered.
Stuart Earl’s Career at ITV
After more than a decade spent at BBC News, Earl began working at ITV in 2015, where he worked across Good Morning Britain, This Morning, and Loose Women before permanently joining the early morning programme in 2022. He arrived soon after former Labour politician Ed Balls began co-hosting Good Morning Britain alongside Susanna Reid following Piers Morgan’s departure in 2021.
Reports have recently claimed that amid growing pressure to “sack” Balls, ITV is eyeing up This Morning and LBC broadcaster Tom Swarbrick for a regular spot on the show in his place. Swarbrick, who presents the weekday Drive show on talk radio station LBC, filled in for Balls in June, during which he received a rave response from viewers.
“It’s early days but there are conversations being had about Tom returning in the near future,” a source told The Sun. “He was an instant hit with viewers, managing to connect with them effortlessly through the screen.”
