Major ITV Daytime Schedule Shake-Up Sees Two Flagship Shows Pulled
In a dramatic overhaul of its weekday daytime lineup, ITV has confirmed that two of its most popular shows, Lorraine and Loose Women, will be removed from the airwaves for several weeks. This sudden schedule change is set to commence next Monday, 9 March, and is expected to leave loyal viewers feeling frustrated and disappointed.
Revised Programming Schedule Details
Under the new temporary schedule, the familiar flow of Good Morning Britain followed by Lorraine, This Morning, and then Loose Women will be disrupted. Instead, Good Morning Britain will broadcast continuously from 6:00 AM through to 10:00 AM. Immediately following this, This Morning will air, concluding at 12:30 PM.
This adjustment means that:
- Lorraine, which typically occupies the 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM slot, will not be broadcast.
- Loose Women, the weekday discussion show that airs for one hour from 12:30 PM, will also be absent from screens.
On-Air Announcements Confirm Temporary Hiatus
Presenters have already informed audiences of the impending breaks. During Friday's episode of Lorraine, step-in host Christine Lampard – who was covering for Lorraine Kelly due to illness – told viewers, 'That's all for today, Lorraine will be back in a few weeks time. Have a lovely weekend, we'll see you soon!'
Similarly, at the conclusion of Friday's Loose Women, anchor Kaye Adams announced, 'It's your last Loose Women for a few weeks. But we will be back next month! Until then, take care. Have a fabulous weekend and Easter, and we'll see you very soon!'
Cheltenham Festival Takes Priority
The primary reason for this scheduling disruption is to make way for the Cheltenham Festival, the highly anticipated horse racing event which begins on 10 March. The current ITV television guide, which extends only to 16 March, confirms the revised morning and early afternoon programming block.
While the exact schedule for the remainder of that week remains unclear, Kaye Adams' announcement indicates that Loose Women is slated to return in April.
Context of Recent Cuts and Long-Term Changes
This temporary removal follows recent revelations about longer-term cuts to ITV's daytime output. Last month, it was reported that both Lorraine and Loose Women would be off air for a week as part of broader budget reductions, which included halving their episode counts.
Furthermore, significant structural changes were announced back in May of last year. These included:
- Plans for Lorraine and Loose Women to be axed for approximately half the year.
- A permanent 30-minute reduction in Lorraine's runtime, now airing only from 9:30 AM to 10:00 AM.
- The loss of over 220 jobs within ITV Daytime as part of major cost-cutting measures.
Host Lorraine Kelly has been particularly affected. Good Morning Britain will now occupy her traditional 9:00 AM to 10:00 AM slot for 22 weeks annually. For the remaining 30 weeks, she will present five days a week, eliminating the need for her regular Friday stand-ins, Ranvir Singh and Christine Lampard.
Strategic Shift in ITV's Programming Focus
Sources within ITV have indicated that these cuts to the daytime schedule are a strategic move. The network aims to reallocate resources to invest more heavily in drama programming, which is seen as a key growth area. In a related production change, it was also announced that ITN – the organisation responsible for ITV News – will take over production of Good Morning Britain from ITV Studios.
This combination of temporary schedule disruptions and permanent structural changes marks a pivotal moment for ITV's daytime television, signaling a shift in priorities that will significantly alter the viewing habits of millions.
