ITV Announces Changes to Daytime Programming
ITV Announces Changes to Daytime Programming
ITV has confirmed significant changes to its daytime programming, with Lorraine Kelly taking an extended break from her show for nearly two months due to illness and programming adjustments. Lorraine’s absence began after she missed broadcasts on March 5 and 6, 2026, and she will officially start her seven-week break in early March 2026.
During Lorraine’s absence, Christine Lampard and Ben Shephard have stepped in to host her show. This change is part of a broader overhaul announced by ITV in May 2025, which has led to a reduction in the duration of Lorraine’s show from one hour to just 30 minutes, now airing weekdays from 9:30 am to 10 am. Both Lorraine and the popular show Loose Women will now only air for 30 weeks a year, a significant reduction from previous schedules.
The immediate cause for this programming shake-up is ITV’s coverage of the Cheltenham Festival, which has necessitated adjustments to the daytime lineup. As part of these changes, Good Morning Britain has extended its broadcast until 10 am to fill the slots previously held by Lorraine and Loose Women. This strategic move reflects ITV’s efforts to adapt its programming to meet audience demands and event schedules.
Lorraine Kelly, who is 66 years old, first gained national attention in 1988 while reporting on the Pan Am disaster in Lockerbie. Her self-titled show debuted in 2010 and has since become a staple of British morning television. Lorraine expressed her feelings about the break, stating, “I am feeling a whole lot better. But this has been a bad lurgy. If you’re going through it yourself, you have my sympathy. It’s a tough one. But I am getting there.” She also mentioned, “I will be off for a good few weeks. Not because I am not well, but because of course the changes to the show.”
The changes to ITV’s daytime programming have not been without consequences, leading to around 200 job losses in ITV’s daytime production. This restructuring highlights the challenges faced by traditional broadcasters in adapting to changing viewer habits and the competitive landscape of television. The long-running show Loose Women has been a fixture of ITV’s daytime lineup for 40 years, making these changes particularly significant for its loyal audience.
As Lorraine prepares for her break, her social media presence remains strong, with 591,000 Instagram followers and a recent post garnering 22,000 likes. Fellow broadcaster Susanna Reid expressed her support, tweeting, “Get well soon @lorrainekellysmith and loads of love.” Meanwhile, Kaye Adams from Loose Women remarked, “There is a reason to get tearful, it’s your last Loose Women for a few weeks. We will be back next month.”
Details remain unconfirmed regarding the long-term implications of these programming changes, but observers are keen to see how ITV’s adjustments will affect viewer engagement and the future of its daytime lineup. The network’s ability to adapt to these shifts will be crucial as it navigates the evolving landscape of television entertainment.