Lorraine Kelly has explained why she was absent from her self-titled ITV show on Monday (November 9), nearly a week after the programme was pulled off air at the last minute. The 66-year-old Scottish presenter took to Instagram to tell fans she had been delayed by heavy traffic on her way to the studio.
In a video shared from her car, Kelly said she had been "stuck in traffic for about an hour and a half trying to get into work." She added: "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."
Accident on M40 causes delay
Captioning the post, Kelly 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. See you tomorrow – so sorry!"
Christine Lampard hosted the programme in her place, opening 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."
Kelly speaks to show by phone
Lampard then spoke to Kelly by 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: "But 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." She added: "I'll be there tomorrow! Whether I have to walk or trudge… anything!"
Previous power cut affected shows
Kelly's absence follows an incident last Wednesday (November 4), when her show was pulled from the ITV schedule due to a power outage at the studio. Filming herself from the back of a car, she said: "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. OK, bye."
This Morning and Loose Women also aired pre-recorded segments because of the outage. An ITV spokesperson said at the time: "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."
