ITV's beloved presenting duo Ant and Dec have thrown their weight behind Lorraine Kelly during the latest episode of I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!, following widespread reports about potential cuts to her long-running daytime programme.
Jungle Banter Shows Solidarity
During Tuesday's episode of the hit reality series, which returned to screens on 19 November, the Geordie hosts used their signature humour to deliver a powerful message of support. Discussing rapper Aitch's gruelling Bushtucker trial, Ant McPartlin set the scene: "Just to remind you, this was a secret underground bunker designed to safeguard the future of the Bushtucker trial so that in the event of a catastrophe such as the apocalypse, I'm A Celebrity would remain on air."
Dec Donnelly then added the crucial punchline: "Yeah, we're as relieved as you are, guys. And you might not know this, but if there is an actual apocalypse, only two ITV shows would continue broadcasting, I'm A Celebrity and Lorraine, you can't mess with Lorraine." Ant simply replied: "He's right," in a clear show of solidarity with the daytime stalwart.
Major Changes to ITV Daytime Schedule
The light-hearted jungle moment comes against a backdrop of significant changes to ITV's daytime programming. Lorraine Kelly, who has been a staple of morning television for over 15 years, recently saw her show's format altered substantially.
Back in May, ITV announced that Good Morning Britain will take over her 9am-10am slot for 22 weeks of the year. Furthermore, The Lorraine show's running time has been cut from a full hour to just 30 minutes as part of a major overhaul affecting the broadcaster's entire daytime output.
Widespread Job Losses and Programme Impacts
The schedule changes coincide with devastating job cuts across ITV's daytime division. The broadcaster confirmed in May that more than 220 jobs would be lost from its daytime output. Staff working on ITV daytime were informed during a meeting that 220 production staff out of 440 will lose their jobs.
The cuts extend beyond Lorraine's programme. Loose Women will also see reductions, with fewer panelists needed than the current rota of 26. An industry insider suggested that 8-10 panelists might leave in the New Year, potentially leading to more outrageous comments from remaining members as they fight to keep their spots on the show. However, ITV has insisted there will be no widespread cuts when it comes to panelists.
Lorraine's Response to Changes
Speaking about the alterations to her show while on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, the 65-year-old presenter admitted: "I was disappointed, of course I was. This is the world that we live in now. Things have to change, I mean, I've been through so many regime changes in my life."
From January 2026, the new format will be implemented, marking a significant shift for a programme that has delighted viewers for decades with its juicy interviews and Kelly's relatable presenting style.
