Lorraine Kelly has presented her eponymous show on ITV since 2010, and celebrated her 40th year in television last year with a special episode of the morning programme
Lorraine Kelly will leave ITV when her contract ends next year, a source has claimed.
The broadcaster, 65, was furious when ITV earlier this year announced her programme will only run for 30 weeks of the year in 2026, cut from the full 52. Her show will be cut in half and will run from 9.30am until 10am from January too, changes about which Lorraine expressed her frustration in May.
But now it appears the Scottish presenter has decided to leave the channel when her contract ends next year. A consultation period, which will determine who will be the victims of ITV’s brutal financial cuts, is currently underway and, though her role appears safe, Lorraine is understood to be ready to call it a day after hosting her eponymous show for 15 years.
The bloodbath may, though, affect Lorraine’s current popular stand-ins Christine Lampard and Ranvir Singh, as the hosts may see their appearances fronting the show slashed.
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A source told Mail Online today: “Lorraine sees it as the end. She’s got a year left on her contract which she will honour, but beyond that there are no plans for her to stay. She will be leaving.
“Of course, she will be fine, she has loads of money. But some of the people who work for her have done so for many years and have put up with her demands for a long, long time. Yet they will struggle to ever get another job in the television industry.”
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Lorraine, originally from Glasgow, celebrated her 40th year in television last year with a special episode of the morning programme, which follows Good Morning Britain in ITV’s line-up. Production staff on these shows, in addition to further ITV daytime programming, are being impacted hugely by the changes, it is believed.
And one employee called the situation “horrendous,” claiming “the little people” at the west London-based broadcaster were suffering. They told Mail Online: “All the big names are staying while the little people get the boot. It is horrendous. You’d think if you wanted to save a big lump of cash you could get rid of some of the presenters. There are loads of them!”
But among those presenters retaining their jobs is Richard Madeley, itr is understood. The veteran broadcaster will continue to front Good Morning Britain for a further six months at least after penning a new, short-term contract recently. Madeley, originally from Romford, east London, frequently presents Good Morning Britain with Susanna Reid, whose position is also said to be safe.