ITV is reportedly set to axe Good Morning Britain presenter Adil Ray as part of a major cost-cutting shake-up affecting its daytime programming. The 51-year-old, who frequently appears as a guest host on the breakfast show, is believed to be among those facing redundancy, according to reports from Mail Online.
Ray, known for co-hosting during school holidays alongside Ranvir Singh and Charlotte Hawkins, has also regularly presented on Fridays next to Kate Garraway following Ben Shephard's departure. Sources claim ITV executives met this past Wednesday to outline upcoming changes, with Ray's potential departure reportedly on the agenda.
The presenter's time on GMB has not been without controversy. Earlier this year, he sparked backlash after viewers accused him of 'fat-shaming' darts star Luke Littler, prompting some to threaten complaints to Ofcom.
ITV's cost-cutting measures have already seen substantial reductions to its daytime line-up. Starting January, both Lorraine and Loose Women will be on air for just 30 weeks out of the year, with Lorraine losing half an hour of runtime as Good Morning Britain extends to a 9:30am finish.
Around 220 roles are expected to be cut across GMB, Lorraine, Loose Women, and This Morning, slashing the workforce by nearly half. An insider told The Sun: 'Everyone was completely blindsided, it was a total shock and people are feeling very deflated.' Another source added: 'Staff are really panicking about their jobs – many have worked at daytime for decades and are completely heartbroken.'
The Mirror has approached ITV for comment on this story.
