Anger is reportedly mounting behind the scenes after This Morning escaped the ITV cutbacks announced this week amid a schedule shake-up and overhaul at the channel.
ITV announced on Tuesday there would be dramatic changes to their daytime TV schedule, with Lorraine Kelly’s show slashed from an hour to 30 minutes and, like Loose Women, will only air 30 weeks of the year.
Anchors Ruth Langsford and Kaye Adams, both 65, and presenters Nadia Sawalha, 60, and Denise Welch, 66, are believed to be ‘angered’ and ‘panicked’ about their livelihoods being at stake, causing uproar behind the scenes.
Top TV talents including Lorraine, 65, whose career spans over 40 years, are believed to be ‘furious’ and ‘insulted’ over the shake-up while the Loose Women are already fearing inevitable job losses.
The new regime, set to come into effect in January, will cost a potential 300 staff members their jobs as a consultation period begins as soon as today, lasting until September, before employees are finally let go in December.
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Anger is reportedly mounting behind the scenes after This Morning escaped the ITV cutbacks announced this week amid a schedule shake-up and overhaul at the channel (Ben Shephard Cat Deeley hosting This Morning)
ITV announced on Tuesday there would be dramatic changes to their daytime TV schedule, with Lorraine Kelly’s show slashed from an hour to 30 minutes
But now there is reportedly growing resentment that This Morning is going to be unaffected despite scandals in recent years including Phillip Schofield’s affair with a much younger colleague.
A source told The Sun: ‘The tension is unbearable. There’s a lot of rage towards This Morning, which everyone feels is constantly favoured despite it being the lame duck of the daytime flock.
‘There’s a feeling that Loose Women and Lorraine are delivering resilient, solid ratings while This Morning is always in the Press for its tumbling viewing figures. Loose Women is even winning awards.
‘Never mind the Phillip Schofield scandal and then Holly Willoughby leaving, This Morning is like the black sheep and yet that’s the show that is not facing any cuts.
‘Everyone is absolutely furious that This Morning has got away with it yet again.’
A source added that some of the older members of the ITV presenting teams are worried that bosses will favour younger stars for the roles that are left.
ITV has been contacted by MailOnline for comment.
Insiders have revealed to MailOnline that it’s Christine Lampard, 46, who fears she will be most affected given she presents for Lorraine when she is on holiday and also anchors Loose Women, meaning her yearly work is now in jeopardy.
Anchors Ruth Langsford and Kaye Adams, both 65, and presenters Nadia Sawalha, 60, and Denise Welch, 66, are believed to be ‘angered’ and ‘panicked’ about their livelihoods being at stake, causing uproar behind the scenes
A source told The Sun: ‘The tension is unbearable. There’s a lot of rage towards This Morning, which everyone feels is constantly favoured despite it being the lame duck of the daytime flock’
A TV source told MailOnline: ‘All of the presenters are in a state of panic and up in arms following ITV’s announcement.
‘These shows make up a large part of their livelihoods, so they are just as stressed and angry as the production staff, who have been told over 300 jobs are at risk.
‘Ruth, Kaye, Nadia and Denise, in particular, have been reaching out to the production team in a panic and to express how angry they are that ITV had made this decision.
‘Lorraine is also furious that her show has been chopped to 30 minutes and moved to just 30 weeks of the year, the same as Loose Women.
‘She thinks it’s the ultimate insult after so many years at the channel, especially as Good Morning Britain is staying the same, with the current hours, airing every weekday of the year, as her show rates the same as they do.
‘Loose Women and Lorraine dropping down in their schedule will badly affect Christine Lampard, she anchors for both shows so most of her yearly work is now at stake.’
MailOnline understands the cast of Loose Women, which includes over 20 presenters such as Charlene White and Coleen Nolan, feel there will be no option other than for the broadcaster to let go of key talent, who have worked on the production for decades.
It’s also believed that younger panelists, like former Love Island contestant Olivia Attwood, 34, and influencer GK Barry, 25, could be favoured over veteran stars including Janet Street-Porter, 78, and Jane Moore, 63.
A Loose Women insider added: ‘At the moment there are about 20 presenters at the show, some are contracted, like Ruth, Kaye, Nadia, Denise, Janet, and Jane, and others are more ad hoc, like Myleene Klass and Sue Cleaver.
‘It is hard enough right now to give every contributor a fair number of shows and to keep everyone happy and on screen as much as they would like.
There is reportedly growing resentment that This Morning is going to be unaffected despite scandals in recent years including Phillip Schofield’s affair with a much younger colleague (seen with co-host Holly Willoughby)
‘Now, the show will air just 30 weeks a year, so a lot of people are going to lose their jobs. There won’t be enough shows to go around, so it means presenters who have been on the series for 25 years may be kicked off the panel.’
Loose Women, which launched in 1999, currently airs on ITV during the week for an hour but from January 2026, the show will only broadcast 30 weeks of the year.
In recent months, the show has attempted to reach a younger audience by recruiting Olivia, who currently fronts her own dating series Bad Boyfriends for the broadcaster, and in March, the series launched its first podcast across ITVX and YouTube.
Anchor Ruth, who previously co-hosted This Morning with ex-husband Eamonn Holmes until 2021, has been on the programme since the beginning, making her the longest serving panelist.
