In a poignant moment on Wednesday's episode of Good Morning Britain, presenters Charlotte Hawkins and Ed Balls bid a final farewell to a cherished colleague, marking the end of a significant chapter for the ITV breakfast show.
An Emotional On-Air Farewell
The heartfelt goodbye came after chief correspondent Richard Gaisford, 52, joined the programme live from Westminster to discuss The King's upcoming Christmas speech. Once the segment concluded, Hawkins seized the moment to address his departure directly.
'Richard, thank you very much for that... I've just got to take this moment actually, to say goodbye and thank you to Richard Gaisford, who has been with us here on ITV breakfast for 26 years now,' she said. Hawkins praised him as a 'much loved' team member who had reported from war zones and across the globe, describing him as 'an exceptional journalist' and 'the best.'
Co-host Ed Balls added his gratitude on behalf of the viewers, thanking Gaisford for his 'public broadcasting service.' He highlighted the correspondent's commitment to truth and his invaluable analysis, noting, 'As the newbie on the block here, I've learnt a lot from you over the last few years.'
A Privileged Career and New Adventures
Visibly moved, Richard Gaisford responded to the tributes. 'Thank you both. It's been a privilege. I have had the best job in television news,' he stated. 'I've worked with the most incredible people. I will miss all of you immensely and wish you the best of luck... I'm out there looking for some new adventures.'
Shortly after the broadcast, Gaisford took to his X account to share a final message with fans. 'Well that is it. The last ever Good Morning Britain broadcast after nearly 26 years,' he wrote. He captioned the post: 'That’s it. Era ended @GMB.'
The announcement of his exit was first made back in October, signalling the 'end of an era' after a quarter of a century on screen. Gaisford has been a fixture on ITV's breakfast programmes since joining in 2000, serving as chief correspondent for GMTV, Daybreak, and finally Good Morning Britain from its 2014 launch.
Tributes from Colleagues and Fans
Fans quickly flooded social media with touching messages of support and thanks. One wrote, 'Wishing you the very best for your next chapter,' while another added, 'You will be missed. Thank you for getting chilly every morning, to bring us the latest. Enjoy a lie in.'
Andrew Dagnell, ITV's Director of News and Current Affairs, also paid tribute, stating: 'Richard is one of the most accomplished and respected journalists in British broadcasting. His work has helped define what audiences expect from breakfast news – authoritative, human and trusted.'
Reflecting on his departure, Gaisford said he felt 'privileged' to have had a front-row seat to history and expressed excitement for 'moving on to new opportunities in a fast-changing media world.' Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
