‘All the big names are staying while the little people get the boot’: Insiders tell KATIE HIND what ‘furious’ ITV production staff REALLY think of the ‘rubbish’ household names who are escaping jobs bloodbath

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During this season, there’s typically a lot of enthusiasm at ITV’s headquarters. The team generally gears up for what’s like a new academic year, welcoming back popular hosts after their summer breaks, with much anticipation.

Leading morning programs such as This Morning and Good Morning initiate discussions on revamping their annual September reboots – enhancing set designs, features, and overall concepts.

Historically, there’s much anticipation for Lorraine Kelly resuming her hosting role and the popular Loose Women panel members returning to our screens, looking refreshed and radiating their signature wit and charm.

Only this year, ITV’s White City studios aren’t fizzing with their usual positive energy.

As a committed follower, I can’t help but feel a mix of sorrow, rage, and apprehension. Over half of the 440 crew members, who work tirelessly behind the scenes, are at risk of losing their jobs in what appears to be the broadcaster’s most devastating round of layoffs yet.

For several months now, we’ve been in a phase where decisions are being made about who will bear the brunt of these harsh financial reductions, known as the consultation period. It’s becoming increasingly evident which entities are likely to be affected (going) and which ones seem to be exempted (staying).

It appears that the struggle for employment and the repercussions of those deemed ‘safe’ versus those not, has reached an extremely harsh and ruthless level.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase that statement like this: Instead of eagerly brainstorming summer projects and preparing for promotions, our team has found themselves immersed in redundancy discussions – a far cry from the usual buzz of excitement. And, unfortunately, there’s been an undercurrent of speculation among us about who might be staying on board.

In simple terms, the announcement of job cuts in May left the dedicated factory workers in a state of despair. To make matters worse, I’ve been informed that ITV is maintaining most of its high-profile hosts, many of whom earn substantial sums, even as they strive to cut expenses.

During the integration of Good Morning Britain with ITV News, the leading anchors such as Susanna Reid, Richard Madeley, Julie Etchingham, and Tom Bradby will continue their positions for the time being.

However, it has been found that they cannot unwind; it appears that Madeley, aged 69, is one of several individuals who have agreed to temporary contracts. His contract, valid for six months, begins in September.

According to reports, both Kate Garraway from Good Morning Britain and Adil Ray are secure in their positions – a surprising turn of events since it seemed that Adil might be let go. However, sources indicate that instead, changes may be made to Adil’s work schedule.

At first, there was much talk about Ed Balls potentially being let go due to some believing his wife Yvette Cooper’s position as Home Secretary could compromise his ability to deliver impartial news coverage. However, it appears that Ed Balls will not be leaving and neither has the idea of ITV News anchors testing out co-hosting roles on Good Morning Britain with Susanna Reid come to fruition.

At the moment, it appears that both teams on GMB and ITV News will carry on with their individual programs separately. The hosts of This Morning will remain where they are as well.

This situation has sparked a great deal of anger among the behind-the-scenes personnel, with one individual expressing their frustration thusly: “The high-profile figures are maintaining their positions, but it’s the lower-level employees who are being let go. It’s absolutely abhorrent.

It might seem logical that reducing the number of presenters could help accumulate a substantial amount of savings, given there are numerous hosts available.

‘But no, instead they’ve all been told they are safe.

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but express my thoughts on this matter. When the news broke about the cuts, I couldn’t help but think that some of our less deserving stars might be let go – and honestly, I felt it was long overdue. There are certainly some performers who, in my humble opinion, haven’t been delivering up to par.

Instead, it has been communicated that there might be some rearrangement of people, and the majority of cost-savings will come from avoiding redundant coverage rather than duplicating it.

Instead of having three to four individuals handling a specific task behind the scenes, there will only be one person doing that job, yet there will still be numerous presenters.

To such an extent are the reductions, that those presenters still employed find themselves grappling with feelings of guilt over their continued employment and substantial salaries, while their colleagues, earning significantly less, have essentially been abandoned and left in a precarious position.

One shared with me: “It’s truly disheartening to witness this situation. They work tirelessly, yet they’ve ended up losing their jobs. It leaves one wondering, where will they find a new place now?

The production sector continues to shrink, leaving individuals such as Susanna and Kate disheartened by the mistreatment of their employees.

Some stars yearn for a chance to alter things, while others find satisfaction in simply remaining as they are.

It has been reported that certain on-screen journalists may be let go, yet no well-known personalities appear to be at risk.

Streamlining is underway, and changes include:

1. For Good Morning Britain (GMB), their own royal coverage team will be replaced by ITV News royal editor Chris Ship.
2. The US bureau for GMB will be discontinued, affecting presenter Noel Phillips, who may find another role within the organization.

In a different phrasing, Louisa James from Google Media Bureau (GMB) might face competition from ITV’s team of political journalists, led by Robert Peston. Notably, it’s Peston who seems secure in his position.

Both Loose Women and Lorraine have been significantly affected by the reductions, with presenters on the former potentially airing for only 30 weeks annually. Similarly, Lorraine will be reduced from airing 52 weeks a year to just 30 weeks, and its transmission time is being shortened from an hour to merely half an hour.

In January 2026, there will be an adjustment where GMB expands by 30 minutes, starting from 06:00 and lasting until 09:30 every day, to address a time gap.

The announcement of the most significant reductions ever at ITV emerged at a time when This Morning had managed to quieten its troubled waters post the Phillip Schofield scandal, where it was revealed that the host was involved in a romantic relationship with a significantly younger female coworker.

In May 2023, he openly admitted everything to me, expressing deep regret for his deceit, and abruptly ended his participation in the show. Five months later, Holly Willoughby also decided to step down from the show, due to a chilling plot involving her kidnapping and murder. For a while, it seemed that This Morning might be approaching its end.

Due to the circumstances, it’s not surprising that the program’s employees found themselves emotionally overwhelmed, often shedding tears each day.

During those months, the show seemed especially challenging for everyone involved. It was a hot topic of conversation among us all.

Daily headlines continued to feature the show even following Phil’s departure, fueled by numerous queries regarding who was aware of what and speculations suggesting a less harmonious atmosphere than portrayed on screen.

Despite the challenges, the committed production team faithfully showed up each day, putting in their utmost efforts to weather through the difficult period.

Those who kept the whole thing running are now facing potential job loss. It seems unfair and it’s really disheartening.

Indeed, it comes as no surprise to me, being such a devoted fan, that the vibe across the four shows – This Morning, Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, and Loose Women – during these sunny months has been described as less than pleasant.

Visitors are showing up to see employees who appear tired and distressed. The vibrant atmosphere, especially noticeable on This Morning, which regained its momentum with the arrival of new hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard in March last year, now seems more subdued and somber.

From my perspective as a lifestyle expert, I’ve seen numerous collaborations gracing our screens, yet the team behind the curtains remained constant. Then, Ben and Cat entered the scene, effortlessly blending into this harmonious workspace. However, suddenly, we faced harsh edits – a stark reminder of the dynamic nature of the industry we’re in.

‘You walk into ITV now and it’s a pretty miserable place.’

It’s no big secret that Lorraine is likely to depart from her namesake show once her current contract ends in a year.

Previously, I’ve been informed that the individual, aged 65, was reportedly furious about the budget reductions. This anger might have been intensified due to her influential past at ITV and her recent milestone achievement of celebrating 40 years in television, which she marked with a special episode of her show last year, a position she’s held since 2010.

She is certainly not the sole victim; these budget reductions could potentially reduce the number of appearances for the program’s current substitutes, Christine Lampard and Ranvir Singh.

Lorraine doesn’t shed tears often; despite many of her show’s staff being jobless, the shrewd Scottish woman is financially stable with an estimated £8 million wealth. Additionally, her financial security grew when she successfully appealed against a £1.2 million tax and National Insurance bill owed to HMRC.

According to the source, Lorraine views this as her final stint here. Despite having a year left on her contract, there are currently no arrangements for her to continue working beyond that. In essence, she is preparing to depart at the end of her contract term.

Absolutely, she should be alright given her substantial wealth. However, those who have served her faithfully for numerous years, enduring her stringent requirements, may find it challenging to secure employment in the television industry again due to their lengthy association with her.

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2025-08-12 03:41