Helen Skelton Responds to Jon Kay’s Playful Dig about Morning Live’s Later Start Time Following BBC’s Schedule Changes

Helen Skelton clapped back at Jon Kay after he made a ‘cheeky’ dig over the BBC’s schedule shake-up. 

Jon, 54, joked he ‘would hold the fort’ after BBC Breakfast has been extended by 15 minutes, meaning a later start time for Morning Live. 

Morning Live presenters Helen, 40, and Gethin Jones, 45, appeared via video link to talk about what was coming up on the show – and Jon couldn’t resist teasing them about being able to have more of lie in. 

Jon, who presented with Sarah Campbell, said: ‘I know your programme is also going on longer, you’ve been extended, but does this mean you get a bit of a lie-in?’ 

Gethin replied: ‘No. Do you know what? I thought that but they made us come in early just to make sure we were ready today because we’ve got a lot to get through, but thanks for bringing that up as well Jon.’ 

Helen Skelton clapped back at Jon Kay after he made a ‘cheeky’ dig over the BBC schedule shake-up

Jon said: ‘We’ll just hold the fort until 9:30 until you’ve had your hair done and you’re ready, that’s fine.’

Not taking any nonsense, Helen clapped back: ‘We are ready, what are you on about? You cheeky monkey’, before all the presenters laughed. 

Jon revealed on X, formerly known as Twitter the schedule shake-up. 

He wrote: ‘It’s a big week for the #BBCBreakfast team. From now on, the programme will be 15 minutes longer Mon-Fri. 

‘Then at 0930 our friends and neighbours @BBCMorningLive take over – and their show has been extended, too! The UK’s two biggest morning shows just got BIGGER!’

The changes mean that instead of ending at 9.15am – having started at 6am – BBC Breakfast will now run until 9.30am.

But Morning Live has been given an even bigger extension, now as an hour-and-a-quarter-long programme, rather than 45 minutes.

In the immediate aftermath of the new changes to scheduling, between Morning Live -hosted by the likes of Helen Skelton, Gethin Jones and Michelle Ackerley – is followed by three shows before the News At One.

Those are, for the moment, Rip Off Britain, Homes Under The Hammer and Bargain Hunt. 

Jon, 54, joked he ‘would hold the fort’ after BBC Breakfast extended the programme by 15 minutes, meaning a later start time for Morning Live

Jon revealed on X: ‘It’s a big week for the #BBCBreakfast team. From now on, the programme will be 15 minutes longer Mon-Fri. ‘Then at 0930 @BBCMorningLive take over’ 

BBC Breakfast has been extended by 15 minutes, while Morning Live – hosted by the likes of (above, L-R) Michelle Ackerley, Gethin and Helen – is an extra half-hour longer

However, between the same two weekday mainstays before the festive period, BBC One showed For Love Or Money, Frontline Fightback, Homes Under The Hammer and Bargain Hunt.

Another impact of the changes to BBC One’s scheduling is that the channel is now less in line with their main rival ITV.

Before the shake-up, BBC Breakfast and Morning Live filled exactly the same slot as Good Morning Britain and Lorraine for their competitor, whereas now Morning Live runs 45 minutes into This Morning.

MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment about the new scheduling.