ITV Announces Changes to Daytime Programming
ITV is set to undergo significant changes to its daytime programming, coinciding with Lorraine Kelly’s extended break from her show. Lorraine, aged 66, will be off air for nearly two months due to illness and programming adjustments, which were first announced in May 2025.
The changes come after Lorraine missed broadcasts on March 5 and 6, 2026. During her absence, Christine Lampard and Ben Shephard stepped in to host her show. ITV has confirmed that Lorraine will take a seven-week break starting in early March 2026, a decision that has raised concerns among fans and colleagues alike.
In a recent update, Lorraine expressed her feelings about her health, 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 noted, “I will be off for a good few weeks. Not because I am not well, but because of course the changes to the show.” This reflects the dual impact of her health and the programming shake-up on her schedule.
As part of the new programming strategy, Lorraine’s show has been reduced from an hour to just 30 minutes, now airing weekdays from 9:30 am to 10 am. Additionally, both Lorraine and the long-running show Loose Women will now air for only 30 weeks a year, a significant reduction from previous schedules. This shift is part of ITV’s broader strategy to optimize its daytime lineup.
Good Morning Britain has extended its broadcast until 10 am to fill the slots traditionally occupied by Lorraine and Loose Women. The immediate cause for this schedule shake-up is ITV’s coverage of the Cheltenham Festival, a major event in the UK that attracts significant viewer interest.
These programming changes have not only affected the show’s format but have also led to around 200 job losses in ITV’s daytime production. This has raised concerns about the future of ITV’s daytime lineup, which has been a staple of British television for decades. Loose Women, for instance, has been a fixture for 40 years, highlighting the long-standing tradition of daytime talk shows on ITV.
As Lorraine prepares for her break, her social media presence remains strong, with 591,000 followers on Instagram 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,” indicating the emotional impact of these changes on the show’s cast and audience.
Details remain unconfirmed regarding how these changes will affect the overall programming strategy moving forward, but observers are keenly watching ITV’s next steps in its daytime offerings.
