ITV's flagship morning show Lorraine is at the centre of a growing viewer rebellion this week, with stand-in host Ranvir Singh bearing the brunt of intense criticism for a specific on-air mannerism that audiences are branding ' utterly unbearable'.
The controversy erupted across social media platforms during Tuesday's broadcast, where Singh was filling her regular role as temporary anchor. The source of the frustration? Her incessant use of the phrase '…yeah?' as a conversational filler, a habit viewers claim is derailing the flow of interviews and making the programme difficult to watch.
A Torrent of Viewer Complaints
Disgruntled fans did not hold back, taking to X (formerly Twitter) to voice their exasperation in real-time. The sentiment was overwhelmingly negative, with one viewer bluntly stating the host was 'absolutely doing my head in', while another pleaded, 'Make it stop! It's every few seconds. Unprofessional and incredibly irritating'.
The criticism highlights the intense scrutiny faced by daytime TV hosts, where every vocal nuance and conversational tic is amplified under the studio lights. For many loyal Lorraine viewers, the constant seeking of validation through '…yeah?' has crossed the line from a minor quirk into a major distraction.
More Than Just a Verbal Tic
The backlash points to a deeper issue of presenter style and audience tolerance. Regular hosts like Lorraine Kelly herself cultivate a specific, comfortable rapport with their audience. A fill-in presenter must seamlessly match this tone, a challenge that, in this case, appears to have fallen short for a significant portion of the viewership.
This incident is not an isolated one for Singh, who also serves as a political correspondent and presenter on Good Morning Britain. It raises questions about the pressure on broadcasters to maintain a polished, effortless delivery in the high-stakes environment of live television, where every minute of airtime is precious.
Whether this wave of criticism will lead to a change in presenting style or scheduling remains to be seen. For now, ITV and the Lorraine production team are facing a vocal segment of their audience demanding a return to the smooth, uninterrupted broadcasting they expect from their morning routine.
