This Morning, Lorraine and Loose Women were taken off air on Wednesday (November 4) after a power cut hit ITV's Covent Garden studio, forcing schedule changes at the broadcaster.
Good Morning Britain presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls announced the news during their live show, which was unaffected because it is filmed at ITV's headquarters. GMB was extended until 10am, after which This Morning highlights were broadcast.
Presenters confirm the disruption
"We'd normally be finding out from This Morning about their show, but unfortunately there's no show," Ed remarked during today's GMB, reports the Mirror. He continued: "There's no show, but we're going to be here until 10, which is the most exciting." Susanna then added: "After which, you'll have the chance to relive some of This Morning's best bits."
This Morning released a statement on Instagram confirming the issue: "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."
Lorraine Kelly addresses viewers
Lorraine Kelly confirmed her own programme would be cancelled for the day. Taking to Instagram earlier this morning, the Scottish host said: "Hello there! I'm on my way to work, but there's been a bit of a hoo-ha. There is a power outage at the studio, so my show won't be on today. But you can still watch GMB, and they're going to fix it around about 11 o'clock ish."
She added: "So, it's a bit of a shame. I was really looking forward to talking to Sharleen Spiteri from Texas, but we shall reschedule, and all will be fine. And I will see you tomorrow. Okay, bye!"
Viewer reaction and technical glitches
Audiences expressed their dismay in the comments section. "Noooo I love watching your show, Lorraine. I don't get showered until after your show. See you tomorrow," one person wrote. Another added: "Aw, what a shame! Sorry to hear this. Hope you have a beautiful day." Someone else said: "That's my morning routine upset. I so look forward to your show, and so miss it when you're not on."
Additional technical problems hit GMB when no adverts were broadcast during one of the breaks. Instead, some watchers saw a blank screen that displayed the ITV logo prominently. "What's going on???" one person asked on X. Another added: "I have never seen this loading screen before," while a third said: "Something's afoot here." Someone else echoed the sentiment, saying: "Is it just ITV that has power cuts or is it the whole of London?"
As the ITV show made its return to air, Susanna offered an apology for the technical glitch. She said: "We do have to say sorry to some of our viewers who have been affected by technical issues during our ad break. Frankly, who knows what might happen between now and 10! It's a kind of rollercoaster, isn't it?"
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10am.
