Movies

ITV Bloodbath: Lorraine’s Humiliation and the Shocking Truth Behind Her Show’s Demise!

BBG News

At the conclusion of this week’s emergency gathering with staff at ITV, where they disclosed forthcoming significant reductions (or a ‘bloodbath of cuts’), they requested a private audience with only one attendee.

That person, of course, was Lorraine Kelly.

It was likely one of the kindest actions they could take, given that she had spent three decades with the broadcaster, and the Scottish presenter has come to symbolize their network.

It was ITV’s head of daytime Emma Gormley, who previously served as Lorraine’s morning show editor and protege for quite some time, who had the challenging duty of informing Lorraine about the changes in her show. This included reducing the number of episodes to 30 per year and shortening the duration from an hour to only half an hour.

There is no getting away from the fact that this came as a terrible shock to Lorraine.

One insider shared with me this week that no one was informed about these cuts. No one, not a single person, was aware of the situation, not even Lorraine. The management chose to keep it secret because they didn’t want it to leak out prematurely. Consequently, Lorraine found out only when she was invited to the meeting like everyone else. Later, she had a separate, private meeting.

For some of her coworkers who felt slighted by her not being the host as frequently, it was an anticipated change since she only hosted around 60% of episodes of her own show in 2024.

As a devoted admirer, I must confess that many esteemed figures have developed a preference for the gracious Christine Lampard, who often steps in as host. It’s been humorously noted by an inside source that Lorraine’s absence has turned into a running joke among them.

Ever since the news broke on Tuesday about Good Morning Britain snatching half of Lorraine’s timeslot, expanding their airtime, I’ve found myself deluged with tales from folks who’ve crossed paths with her throughout the years.

As a loyal supporter, I can’t help but share the collective sigh of relief among many of us as we witness her dwindling influence at the channel. The call for the show to be fully entrusted to Christine Lampard has become increasingly vocal, reflecting our desire for a fresh and lasting change.

According to one report, Lorraine’s program didn’t perform well in terms of ratings. It seems that many people find the show unappealing, as is the general consensus at ITV. Working on Lorraine’s show was often viewed as a stepping stone towards securing a position on programs like This Morning or Good Morning Britain.

It’s been mentioned that there were some areas within ITV where it was felt Lorraine may have lost touch with her everyday audience following her successful appeal against a £1.2 million tax bill back in 2019, which could have affected her relatability.

Lorraine contested her bill from HMRC, which is targeting personal services companies used by numerous celebrities hired by broadcasters, on the grounds that she wasn’t an employee of the corporation, but rather a freelancer. She maintained that this status exempted her from income tax and national insurance payments.

In her argument, Lorraine, aged 65, asserted that while hosting the show, she wasn’t portraying herself genuinely, but rather enacting a character embodying a friendly, lively, and entertaining demeanor. This role demanded her to project an on-stage persona that reflected herself.

Lorraine felt incredibly happy when Judge Jennifer Dean decided to categorize her as both a ‘dramatic performer’ and a ‘freelance performer’, which ultimately exempted her from a large tax liability, and made her agent’s fees eligible for tax deductions.

Although the win led to grand festivities within Lorraine’s group, looking back, it’s clear that triumph wasn’t without its price.

According to an ITV source, Lorraine has consistently been seen as the cheerful, everyday host. Her challenges with maintaining a healthy weight, her role as a typical working mother, and her less glamorous image compared to some of her colleagues were likely reasons she was granted her own show.

Initially, she was perceived as someone who shared similarities with her audience. However, when the tax controversy occurred, the dynamics shifted.

‘Yes, she saved handing over a lot of money but at what cost?’

Not only did the modifications underscore it, but it’s indisputable now that Susanna Reid of Good Morning Britain has risen to ITV’s leading female anchor. A model of dedication and a tireless worker, Reid is the sole host who will remain secure amidst the upcoming layoffs that will impact 220 employees.

Absolutely, it’s quite a dramatic downfall for Lorraine, who initially started her career in television back in 1984, working as Scotland Correspondent for TV-am. Her career took off four years later when she reported on the Lockerbie disaster, where Pan Am Flight 103 exploded mid-air above a Scottish town, resulting in the deaths of 270 people both on board and on the ground.

Her talent garnered the interest of London’s executives, leading to an invitation to showcase her skills on TV-am’s Summer Sunday program in the capital. Later, she was also asked to serve as the main weekday program’s co-anchor.

In January 1993, she played a significant role in the debut of GMTV, a new show that replaced TV-am. She co-hosted this program with Eamonn Holmes, and quickly won over more viewers with her charm.

In 2010, she received her own show as recognition, and to emphasize her significance to the network, they titled it after her. At ITV, she was as much a fixture as the furniture itself, and she acknowledged this.

This week, it wasn’t just Lorraine that encountered a reduction in airtime; even Loose Women, the well-established panel show celebrating its silver jubilee last year, had its number of episodes reduced from 52 to 30 annually. However, its duration of 60 minutes will continue unchanged.

This morning’s program, hosted by Cat Deeley, Ben Shephard, Alison Hammond, and Dermot O’Leary, continues to remain unchanged.

Although there have been some high-profile exits from the show involving Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby, many insiders continue to view it as ITV’s prized asset and a shining example of success.

However, others have divulged that the chiefs will be ‘coming’ for the show at a later date.

At GMB, there have been significant changes; now, ITN is responsible for producing the program, and it’s likely that both the team and the presenters will be combined.

Overall, these significant modifications – marking the most extensive shifts in our network’s timeline – are an essential aspect of a major cost-cutting initiative set to commence in January.

Oh boy, let me tell you, I’m absolutely bursting with pride! Just witnessed a momentous occasion – my precious daughter Rosie has brought a new life into the world, my granddaughter, Billie! The depth of this feeling is indescribable; it’s as if my heart has expanded to accommodate a love so profound.

What compounded the dreadful scenario was that Emma Gormley, who had been her guardian for years, was the one who had to deliver the news to her. Gormley had protected her during times of declining viewership, with a peak of 1.1 million viewers per day in 2010, the year the show initially aired.

It appears that Gormley has been pushed aside following the Schofield scandal, which led to his dismissal from This Morning after a conflict with co-star Holly. Last year, Gormley seems to have lost a power struggle against ITV’s new news director Andrew Dagnall. Moreover, Katie Rawcliffe, who was previously head of entertainment at the channel, took over as the director of entertainment and daytime, potentially taking some of Gormley’s responsibilities away from her.

‘Emma took on a deep sense of devotion for Lorraine because she had been responsible for it,’ mentioned an ex-colleague of the two women. ‘Before her promotion to overseeing the entire daytime lineup, Lorraine was the sole show Emma had produced.’

‘But now Emma’s power appears to have been taken away from her and boom, Lorraine has gone.’

As a die-hard fan, I can’t help but feel a pang of worry amidst the buzz surrounding ITV. The rumors are abuzz that our beloved Lorraine might be hanging up her hosting hat for good, possibly opting for a well-deserved retirement. It’s hard to imagine mornings without her warm smile and insightful conversations.

Lorraine’s friend expressed how embarrassing it was for her, considering the long time she invested in her show, only to see it destroyed in such a manner.

She’s now a grandmother at the age of 65 and has the opportunity to work elsewhere. However, she’s aware of this fact. Therefore, ITV is anxiously anticipating her decision as to whether she will choose to leave her current position entirely.

And would there be many tears shed?

‘Absolutely not,’ said one ITV employee.

Read More

2025-05-23 19:45

Previous post From courtside to Croisette, Spike Lee brings basketball trash talk to a contentious Cannes
Next post Kaitlin Olson’s Surprising Take on Morgan and Karadec’s Romance Will Leave You Speechless!