END OF AN ERA: Lorraine star Dr. Hilary Jones MAKES HEARTBREAKING ANNOUNCEMENT after nearly 40 years with the show

Lorraine star Dr Hilary Jones has revealed details about his exit from the popular ITV programme after an impressive 36-year run. Hilary is departing following confirmation that the morning show will be slashed to just 30 minutes from January. The trimmed timetable means it will broadcast for merely 30 weeks annually rather than the current 52. The 72 year old health expert has also admitted he doubts there will be funds available for a farewell celebration.

He revealed: “I’m still working there until December 31, and then I’m a free agent. It’s liberating from the constraints of a news programme presenter. I’ll probably come back as a guest presenter now and then.” He went on to explain the reasoning behind the alterations to the beloved programme, noting that numerous staff members are being forced to move on, reports The Mirror.

He commented: “People are being very sensitive to the fact that some people are having to move on.A lot of people are being redeployed elsewhere or in the same role. ITV, like everyone else, are having to make changes.”

Speaking to The Sun, when questioned whether ITV would organise a farewell do for those facing redundancy, he remarked: “It would be lovely if they did, but we will wait and see on that one because money is tight.

“Certainly, there are groups of us who feel we’re part of a family, so we will all be going out anyway, whether they pay or not. We are quite happy to dip into our own pockets.”

At the Best Hero awards, Hilary also made clear, “I think people at work know where they stand, and many saw changes coming.” The shake-up will slash ITV Studios’ daytime workforce by half as bosses attempt to recover from financial setbacks.

Latest financial figures for the broadcaster revealed profits have plummeted by 30 percent during the first six months of this year. In the meantime, television host Lorraine Kelly has branded the reductions to her programme as “heartbreaking” whilst speaking publicly for the first time about her show facing cuts.

The presenter has also pledged to carry on with her eponymous show despite earlier rumours suggesting she was ready to quit.

In conversation with The Mirror, she revealed: “I don’t see me going anywhere until people get fed up, you know? Until people say, I’ve had enough of that one. It’s really heartbreaking to split up the team, a lot of my team have been with me for more than 20 years and they’re my friends.

“I’ve grown up with them. They were babies when they started with me and now they’ve got babies of their own.”

Lorraine mentioned she felt relieved that many of her colleagues have since found positions on different programmes.

She continued: “It’s been difficult with the cuts, it’s been hard. I’m a lot happier about it now but it was honestly and genuinely all about the team. I wasn’t annoyed or angry about this for me..it was about the team.”