Richard Madeley: ITV Showdown Over GMB Future
- Daytime TV shakeups impact viewers' access to familiar news and entertainment, and affect the livelihoods of production staff.
- Richard Madeley, a fixture on ITV's 'Good Morning Britain' (GMB) since 2017, faced uncertainty regarding his role amid sweeping changes to the network's daytime programming.
- ITV's planned overhaul includes extending 'Good Morning Britain' by 30 minutes and reducing 'Lorraine' to a 30-minute slot airing 30 weeks per year.
Richard Madeley’s ’Good Morning Britain’ Future Uncertain Amid ITV Changes
Richard Madeley, a fixture on ITV’s ‘Good Morning Britain’ (GMB) since 2017, faced uncertainty regarding his role amid sweeping changes to the network’s daytime programming. The 69-year-old, who reportedly earned £300,000 annually, was initially rumored to be exiting the show.
ITV’s planned overhaul includes extending ‘Good Morning Britain’ by 30 minutes and reducing ‘Lorraine’ to a 30-minute slot airing 30 weeks per year. ’Loose Women’ will also transition to a seasonal format. These changes are slated to begin in January 2026.
According to The Sun, Madeley engaged in discussions wiht ITV executives to secure a revised, part-time role on ‘Good Morning britain’. A source said the initial reports of Madeley’s departure caused considerable concern within ITV.
Lorraine Kelly, host of “Lorraine,” was reportedly offered retirement after 40 years in entertainment but chose to fulfill her contract, which extends through 2026.
Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV’s Media and Entertainment Division, acknowledged the impact of these changes on staff and pledged support during the transition. He said the schedule adjustments would allow for reinvestment in other genres and consolidate news operations.
The Evening Standard reported that the changes could affect 220 of the 440 jobs involved in the production of these shows.
“Daytime is a really vital 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,” Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV’s Media and Entertainment division said.
What’s next
The new ITV daytime schedule will be implemented in January 2026.