In a significant shake-up for ITV's daytime programming, Good Morning Britain has welcomed a new presenter to its regular roster, as the broadcaster implements sweeping cuts across its schedule. The changes, which took effect this year, see the breakfast show extended while other programmes face reductions in their airtime.
Schedule Overhaul and Presenter Addition
The ITV Daytime line-up has undergone a dramatic transformation, with Good Morning Britain now broadcasting from 6am to 9.30am, followed by Lorraine for a half-hour slot from 9.30am to 10am. This Morning retains its weekday position from 10am to 12.30pm, and Loose Women airs from 12.30pm to 1.30pm. Notably, Lorraine and Loose Women will only be shown for 30 weeks of the year, marking a substantial reduction in ITV's daytime output.
Amid these adjustments, it has been confirmed that news presenter Paul Brand has been officially added to the Good Morning Britain team on a full-time basis. A source revealed to The Sun, "He has been promoted and given a full-time presenter job on Good Morning Britain." Brand, who serves as the UK Editor of ITV News, has been a guest presenter on the show since 2022 and will continue to make occasional appearances in 2026, according to a spokesperson for the programme.
Management Perspective on the Changes
Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV's Media and Entertainment Division, commented on the schedule revisions when they were announced, emphasising the importance of daytime programming. He stated, "Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres."
Lygo added that the changes aim to consolidate news operations and expand national, international, and regional news output, building on ITV's legacy of trusted journalism. He highlighted, "Daytime has been a core element of ITV's schedule for over 40 years and these changes will set ITV up to continue to bring viewers award-winning news, views and discussion as we enter our eighth decade."
Brand's Previous Experience and On-Air Moments
Paul Brand has previously stepped in as a presenter on Good Morning Britain, notably filling in for Richard Madeley during an illness. During that broadcast, Brand humorously remarked, "Get well soon Richard, and come and help me out! I don't know what I'm doing, and I've never sat next to you [Susanna] before either, so this is fresh territory for me – that's for sure. It's been very nice this morning, you gave me a hug when you arrived." Susanna Reid responded warmly, noting, "Not everyone gets a hug on this programme… former presenters included."
The regular hosting duties on Good Morning Britain typically see Ed Balls and Susanna Reid at the helm from Mondays to Wednesdays, with Kate Garraway, Ranvir Singh, and other presenters covering Thursdays, Fridays, and holiday periods. Brand's addition to the roster is expected to bring fresh dynamics to the show as ITV navigates these evolving schedule changes.
