Major ITV star tipped to leave following daytime schedule 'bloodbath'

Lorraine Kelly is tipped to quit her morning ITV show at the end of next year following a major shakeup to the daytime schedule. Reports over the past week have announced that major changes are on the way at after decades of a fixed schedule.

Fans of TV have watched from 6am every week day before the show seamlessly moves into the Lorraine show at 9am. follows at 10am - with taking over at 12:30pm.

But now the schedule is set for a major shake-up - and there are suggestions there is furore behind the scenes as Lorraine's show is set to endure some of the most brutal changes. Instead of airing every week, the show is to be stripped back to just half the year.

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And the long-runing show will be reduced to just half an hour. Now a report has suggested Lorraine will walk away from the show altogether by the end of next year.

A source told “Lorraine was asked if she wanted to retire, having just celebrated her 40 years on breakfast TV, but she instead chose to see out her contract.

"Bosses thought it would be an ideal opportunity for her to spend more time with family, especially given how little she was on her own show last year. Many think it is unlikely she will stay on after her current contract and that is further proven by the fact that the boss of her show will be part-time and on a one-year contract.

“She is a hugely valued member of the ITV history and is likely to do other shows at the channel, with some thinking she may explore documentaries, travelogues and passion projects.” The has contacted a representative of Lorraine for comment.

The Sun's claims come days after The Mirror first reported rumours Lorraine could quit her show. The presenter is said to have been left devastated by the scale of job losses set to hit the programme which is set to be slashed from an hour to 30minutes. It will also now only air for 30 weeks out of 52.

A source said: “There are genuine fears among staff that Lorraine may decide to walk if the quality of the show they are putting out declines. It’s hard to see how standards won’t fall….and there are questions over whether Lorraine will want to be associated with that. Lorraine and her team are perfectionists - it’s why the show is loved by so many.”

The source said the move was a “kick in the teeth” especially given ITV was crowing this week about the show amassing its highest ratings for four years.

A second insider added: “This is a presenter who has just come back from having an operation, has won a BAFTA, is enjoying record ratings….and then ITV show their appreciation by yanking her off air half the year. Staff are beside themselves, and have been in tears constantly. It doesn’t make any sense given the trajectory the show is on.”

The extreme cuts and changes at ITV are said to be planned in an effort to cut costs at the broadcaster. Other shows to face radical changes in recent months include the iconic soap - which has also seen high profile cast members leave and reports of episode numbers getting cut.

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