Lorraine Kelly has apologised for missing her own ITV show after being caught in a traffic jam on the M40. The 66-year-old presenter was commuting from her home in Bourne End, Buckinghamshire, to Television Centre in west London when her chauffeured car was held up in heavy traffic.
Stuck for an hour and a half
Posting on Instagram shortly before she was due on air, Kelly said: "Hi everyone. It's Monday morning and I've been stuck in traffic for about an hour and a half trying to get into work. I think there's been a wee accident and I'm hoping that everybody is OK. It's starting to move now, but I don't think I'm going to make it – I honestly don't."
She added: "Sorry I won't see you today. But I will definitely see you tomorrow." In the caption, she wrote: "I've actually had genuine nightmares about not being able to get to my work – today it was true. Sadly an accident on M40 shut the motorway and I was stuck for an hour and a half. All OK now and hopefully no injuries – but live TV means you can't be late."
Christine Lampard steps in
The programme was instead hosted by Christine Lampard, who opened the episode by telling viewers: "I am not Lorraine! She isn't here today and that is because she has been stuck in a road closure all morning."
Lampard then spoke to Kelly on the phone, who said: "For goodness' sake Christine. I was sitting there for an hour and a half. The only good thing about all of this is thank goodness nobody was seriously hurt. As far as we know it was an accident or a road closure, but we don't think anybody is injured, which is great news."
She continued: "When you are stuck in traffic there is literally nothing you can do. You can't go forwards, you can't go backwards, you can't do anything. You just sit there and hope for the best. It's a bit like my worst ever stress dream where you can't get to work. It was like that – but real."
Previous disruption
Kelly's absence comes after her show was pulled from the ITV schedule the previous Wednesday due to a power outage at the studio. She said at the time: "It's a bit of a shame. I was really looking forward to talking to Sharleen Spiteri from (the band) Texas. We shall reschedule, and it'll all be fine, and I will see you tomorrow."
This Morning and Loose Women also aired pre-recorded segments due to the outage. An ITV spokesperson said: "Following a power cut overnight in the wider area where our Covent Garden studio is based, we are unable to broadcast Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women live today. We will return to our normal schedule as soon as possible."
Kelly has hosted her eponymous programme since 2010. Earlier this year, ITV announced scheduling changes, including reducing the show from one hour to 30 minutes and airing 30 weeks out of 52 from 2026. On weeks when the show is not on air, Good Morning Britain airs for an extra half-hour, from 6am to 10am.
