Lorraine Kelly has spoken candidly about the impact of ITV's daytime budget cuts on her show, admitting they left her feeling “really rubbish”. The presenter, who has been on screen for more than 40 years, saw her programme reduced to 30 weeks a year and cut from an hour to 30 minutes, with a number of her team made redundant.
In an interview with Saga magazine, the 66-year-old said: “Really rubbish. A lot of my team got made redundant. It was really hard and harder for them. We were very close-knit, but it’s all about budget. All television shows are in the same boat, we’re not alone.” Despite the changes, she insisted the role remained “the best job in television” with lovely guests.
Kelly also opened up about a difficult year personally, following the death of her father John in January at the age of 84, and her mother’s declining health. Speaking about her dad, she said: “When something massive is happening, your hand still goes to your phone. Dad is – I keep speaking about him in the present tense – really into space. When [NASA’s rocket] Artemis II flew around the moon, I wanted to say, ‘Are you watching this? It’s amazing’. Then you remember he’s not there.”
Despite the setbacks, she remains optimistic, having previously said she is “not done yet” after marking 40 years in television and collecting a BAFTA. Reports have suggested she could leave ITV in the future and may work with the BBC or other broadcasters. She recently made her Radio 2 debut at Christmas, filling in for Jeremy Vine’s midday slot.
Reflecting on her longevity, she told the Proper Tasty podcast: “I've been doing telly for over 40 years. It's mad isn't it? It's absolutely crazy. I started in breakfast telly in 1984, and I'm still getting away with it. Extraordinarily.” She also responded to being called a “national treasure”, saying: “Well, that's nice, but it's only because I've been around for so long.”
