Lorraine Kelly, 65, shares bold four-word statement as she breaks silence amid ITV cuts to daytime shows
Lorraine Kelly has issued a defiant response to ITV’s announcement that her daytime show will be drastically reduced, declaring “I’m not done yet” in her first interview since the cuts were revealed.
The veteran broadcaster’s programme will be slashed from an hour to 30 minutes and reduced to just 30 weeks per year from January, as part of sweeping changes to ITV’s daytime schedule announced last month.
Speaking for the first time since the changes were announced, Kelly reflected on receiving a BAFTA for her 40-year television career, saying: “I got a BAFTA. ‘Here’s a BAFTA for being alive.'”
Sharing how she felt over the accolade during the conversation on Tom Kerridge’s Proper Tasty podcast, she issued a strong summary, commenting: “I thought, ‘hang on a minute, I’m not done yet.'”
The 65-year-old presenter, who has been a fixture on ITV screens since 1984, appears determined to fight for her show’s survival despite the significant cuts.
The cuts form part of a wider restructuring that will see 220 production staff out of 440 lose their jobs across ITV’s daytime programming.
Kelly was informed of the changes in a separate meeting with ITV boss Kevin Lygo shortly after recovering from laparoscopy surgery in May.
She reportedly rejected a proposal to merge her show with Good Morning Britain.
A source told The Mirror: “Lorraine was not happy about what is happening and also had concern for the production team which works on her show and will be cut back too.”
The insider added that Kelly “needs to show bosses it is worth keeping on air” and was “left in no doubt after the meeting there are some tough times ahead.”
A new 12-month position titled Head of Lorraine is understood to have been created to oversee the changes.
Kelly passionately defended her four-decade career, telling Kerridge: “I’ve been doing telly for over 40 years.
“It’s mad isn’t it? It’s absolutely crazy. I started in breakfast telly in 1984, and I’m still getting away with it. Extraordinarily.”
The presenter is reportedly prepared to work harder to prove her show’s worth, with sources suggesting she will be “pulling hard to get big name celebrities on her show instead of GMB or This Morning.”
Kelly expressed her deep connection to the programme, saying: “I always say I treat people with huge respect and all of that. I’m inviting them into my house, in a sense.”
Despite the 30-minute format leaving “a very short chunk of time” after advertising breaks, Kelly appears determined to demonstrate the show’s value to ITV bosses.
Kelly also discussed her recent health challenges, revealing she had undergone keyhole surgery to remove her ovaries and fallopian tubes.
“Everything is absolutely fine. They whipped out my ovaries and fallopian tubes, and everything is fine. It’s all good,” she said on the podcast.
The presenter suggested she now feels able to be “a lot cheekier” in her broadcasting, particularly when appearing on other channels.
“Not so much in the morning, but if I do a wee show on Channel 4, or The Last Leg, or something like that. You can be unleashed. And I quite like that,” she explained.
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Despite the challenging circumstances, sources indicate Kelly “has dropped anchor at ITV and doesn’t want to leave,” remaining committed to the broadcaster where she has spent her entire morning television career.
Similar changes are also being made to ITV panel show, Loose Women.