Cost-cutting measures at ITV have resulted in a huge change for its daytime scheduling as 220 jobs are at risk and hit shows and presenters are facing a major shakeup
Richard Arnold’s future at ITV has been revealed
ITV is set to make a huge change to their daytime scheduling, with jobs being put at risk – however, one star is reportedly safe from the cuts. The big changes have left staff, as well as viewers, unsure of what the future holds for their favourites on the channel.
They have decided to overhaul Loose Women and Lorraine as part of new cost-saving measures. From 2026, Lorraine Kelly’s morning programme will be shortened to a 30-minute slot, airing from 9.30am to 10am instead of its current hour-long format. It will also only be broadcast for 30 weeks out of the year, meaning the stand-in hosts who currently replace Lorraine when she is on holiday will be out of a job. Loose Women is also facing significant changes, and will soon only be airing “on a seasonal basis for 30 weeks of the year” according to ITV bosses.
Richard Arnold has worked on Good Morning Britain since 2014
The risks to jobs has left some fans wondering if their favourites could be axed. Thankfully, for those who love a bit of showbiz gossip from Good Morning Britain’s guru Richard Arnold, they have nothing to worry about.
He has reportedly kept his job amid the sweeping changes at ITV as some 220 staff face redundancies. Richard has fronted the entertainment news on the ITV morning show since it launched in 2014.
According to reports, he has been told he is safe along with his team, who are known as “RAP” for Richard Arnold Producers. A source told The Sun: “Richard is one of ITV daytime’s best-loved faces never mind on GMB
Viewers enjoy his slots and he remains very much part of the furniture.” Richard’s Good Morning Britain co-stars Andi Peters and Jeff Brazier haven’t had as much luck, however.
The pair have been lucky enough to call flying to far-out luxury locations part of their job, yet it won’t be for much longer. They would often pop up in some far flung location, encouraging viewers to try their luck and be in with a chance of winning thousands of pounds on shows, including Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women.
Yet, ITV will, reportedly, no longer be shelling out for presenters such as Andi and Jeff to sun themselves on sun-kissed beaches while working for the broadcaster in its latest cost-cutting exercise.
This year alone, Andi has broadcast from the Maldives, Australia, Cape Town and Florida while Jeff has jetted off to Thailand, Sri Lanka and Malta.
Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV’s Media and Entertainment Division, announced the changes in May, where he had said the changes were necessary to “generate savings”.
He said: “Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.
“These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever.”
However, sources have told The Mirror some shows face a ‘death spiral’ saying: “It’s not a case of viewers seeing less of their shows… it’s impossible to see how the high standards will remain the same.
“Some staff believe Loose Women and Lorraine in particular will enter a death spiral… it’s just so sad. Just a handful of people will be working on each of those two programmes which has huge ramifications for how they are going forward.”
The Mirror has contacted ITV and Richard’s representatives for comment.
