Staff on the ITV programme Lorraine fear that presenter Lorraine Kelly may quit the show after the channel announced major cuts that will reduce the programme from an hour to 30 minutes and limit it to 30 weeks a year. The changes, part of a cost-saving plan of up to £50 million, have left staff devastated, with insiders describing the move as a 'kick in the teeth'.
An insider said: 'There are genuine fears among staff that Lorraine may decide to walk if the quality of the show they are putting out declines. It’s hard to see how standards won’t fall… and there are questions over whether Lorraine will want to be associated with that.' The source noted that the show recently achieved its highest ratings in four years, making the cuts particularly puzzling.
Another insider added: 'This is a presenter who has just come back from having an operation, has won a BAFTA, is enjoying record ratings… and then ITV show their appreciation by yanking her off air half the year. Staff are beside themselves, and have been in tears constantly.'
ITV is cutting 220 jobs across daytime programming, with almost half of the 450 positions in ITV Daytime being eliminated. Loose Women will also move to a seasonal schedule of 30 weeks from January 2026. Good Morning Britain will be extended by half an hour for 30 weeks and by an hour for the remaining 22 weeks when Lorraine is off air, and production will transfer to ITN.
ITV boss Kevin Lygo insisted that presenters will remain the same across all affected programmes. Lorraine will now present her shorter show five days a week instead of four, with regular stand-ins Christine Lampard and Ranvir Singh providing holiday cover. The changes aim to reinvest savings into drama, sport, entertainment, and reality programming.
