Latest news with #TelevisionCentre
Daily Mail
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
ITV downgrade as This Morning and Loose Women find budget new home amid 'major money-saving mission' - and 'it's a far cry from the plush life the stars are used to'
This Morning and Loose Women 's new home has been confirmed amid 'major money-saving mission'. Just last month fans were left shocked when it was revealed that the two programmes have been axed for half the year as ITV announced a big shake up to its daytime schedule due to cuts. The shows have been filmed at the well-known Television Centre in Shepherds Bush, west London, since 2018. But now it's time for change, because according to The Sun, This Morning, Loose Women and Lorraine will be filmed at The Hospital Club in Convent Garden. A source told the publication: 'ITV are on a major budget saving mission and have landed a new deal to film ITV Daytime at what was The Hospital Club. 'It's quite apt really as I'm sure they hope the move to the former hospital will breathe some life into their programme budgets. 'All three of their main shows, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women will be based there... in the basement where there's a state of the art studio.' 'The changes are needed to keep up with the ever evolving world of TV but it's a far cry from the plush life stars have become accustomed to at White City.' An ITV source added: 'We have always said that when the changes to our daytime schedule take place in 2026 that these programmes will find a new home. 'The new studio is not yet confirmed and when it is we will obviously communicate that news to our staff first.' MailOnline have contacted ITV for comment. ITV bosses announced huge cuts with job losses in excess of 220 in May. Good Morning Britain has taken Lorraine's slot between 9 and 10am for 22 weeks of the year. This means that Lorraine will present for the remaining 30 weeks of the year. The show will only last half an hour, meaning that it will start at 9:30am. And that host Lorraine Kelly will host all of those, meaning that her step-in hosts Ranvir Singh, 47, and Christine Lampard, 46, will no longer be needed. As of now, This Morning - hosted by Ben Shephard, 50, Cat Deeley, 48, Alison Hammond, 50, and Dermot O'Leary, 52 - remains untouched. Earlier this month it was revealed that Loose Women has also axed a vital part of the show - that there will no longer be a live audience. A TV source told MailOnline: 'The panelists are really upset over the decision to axe the live studio audience from the show. 'It's what sets the series apart from the rest of ITV daytime and now there are massive fears that viewers will switch off completely. 'The only concern now is to cut costs and having a live studio audience can be expensive, with the added need for security and a warmup artist. 'Presenters already know how it feels to broadcast the show without an audience because that's what happened during the pandemic, and they all know it creates low mood and lack of atmosphere.' And Loose Women star Nadia Sawalha has admitted that she's 'totally devastated' after revealing her 'dear friend' has been axed from the ITV show. Addressing the change on a recent episode of her podcast Coffee Moaning, alongside her husband Mark Adeley, Nadia said: 'From next year there will be no Loose Women audience. 'I am totally devastated by this fact, I can't get over it at all. Not only because the audience is so important for the show, but also my dear friend Lee who I work with every day.' Comedian, broadcaster and presenter Lee Peart has been part of the team after joining the programme as the warm-up act in 2017. An insider said: 'While there is a proposal to not have a studio audience for Loose Women from 2026, that doesn't necessarily mean that we'll never have a studio audience again, it just won't be in the same way as it is now.'
Daily Mail
27-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Lorraine Kelly refused 'insulting' offer from ITV bosses to merge her show with Good Morning Britain - with star poised to QUIT next year
Lorraine Kelly was given the chance by ITV bosses to merge her daytime show with Good Morning Britain to present the last 30 minutes of their broadcast, but she declined. The TV veteran, 65, was pulled into a meeting prior to the channel's budget cuts announcement last week where she was offered the new proposal, which was considered an 'easy fix' after the same format was adopted during the pandemic. Sources have revealed that Lorraine was 'insulted' by the suggestion and told bigwigs it wasn't a possibility, resulting in the reduced runtime of her show from an hour to 30 minutes. MailOnline understands that Lorraine, who has presented her show for the past 14 years, was prepared to 'walk away' but agreed to continue hosting the series until the end of 2026. The star is predicted to quit for good next year after a new role titled 'Head of Lorraine' was created to oversee the changes, but the contract is only for a 12-month period. Last week, ITV confirmed that ITN is taking over the output of Good Morning Britain while Lorraine and Loose Women will only air 30 weeks per year and are moving from Television Centre to a central London studio. A show insider revealed: 'Lorraine was pulled into a meeting with bosses where she was told about Good Morning Britain being taken over by ITN ahead of the public announcement. 'It was proposed that her show would merge with GMB so that she presented the last 30 minutes of the broadcast, which is what happened when a reduced team were working during lockdown. 'But she told them no and said it wasn't even a possibility... fast-forwarded two weeks and the channel announced her show would be cut from an hour to 30 minutes... 'The entire thing has been an insult and she's certain to leave when the year-long contract ends.' On Tuesday, it was confirmed that Lorraine, This Morning, and Loose Women will relocate from Television Centre to a new filming location, where they plan to share the same studio. MailOnline revealed the reality of cutbacks to This Morning last week, which will result in massive changes to the show's current format. And now insiders say there will be limited time between each show so changing the sets may not be an option, as the output of the programmes will likely suffer. A source added: 'In January, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women are moving from Television Centre to a central London location, rumoured to be the Hospital Club in Covent Garden. Lorraine has presented her TV show for the past 14 years and will continue to front the programme until 2026 but her future beyond then remains uncertain 'All three shows will share the same studio, meaning sets will be massively reduced to save space and money. 'At present, This Morning broadcasts from a huge studio within Television Centre and Lorraine and Loose Women share one space. 'Lorraine's set is flipped once they come off air and Loose Women is put in but the new set up is thought to involve all the shows sharing one space with no set flips in between.' A source close to ITV said: 'We were very open about the challenges in the industry and so several options were discussed, the key was ensuring Lorraine was retained and was as comfortable as possible in a changing landscape. 'Her show is still hugely valued, Lorraine recently had its highest audience share in four years and still reaches 2.7 million people.' It was reported by the Sun on Sunday that Susanna Reid, 54, is negotiating a new longer-term two-year contract to become a face of the network while co-host Richard Madeley fought to stay on the series. It's believed the former This Morning presenter faced the axe from his breakfast show job before a showdown with bosses left him with a part-time deal.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE Crisis widens at ITV as Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women staff hauled into meeting by top boss - as the network's daytime roster faces huge cuts
Staff on ITV 's biggest shows have been hauled in for a meeting at 2pm today, as Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women face huge cuts. The emergency meeting has been called by Emma Gormley, the managing director of Daytime at ITV Studios, amid the biggest changes to the daytime roster in the channel's history. She wrote to 'all employees who work in ITV Studios Daytime', which includes big names like Susanna Reid, Ed Balls, Lorraine Kelly and Alison Hammond, to announce the briefing. Sent on Monday evening it is said to have 'sent staff into a panic' when it landed in inboxes. Sources said that the biggest fears are for Lorraine, as staff fear they might even axe the show as viewing figures have dwindled and Lorraine herself has faced criticism for her absences from the show. ITV bosses, including Gormley and head of ITV News output Andrew Dagnell, were locked in a meeting on Tuesday morning hammering out how to deliver the news of the cuts. The source added: 'Whatever the level of cuts are, they are likely to be large.' The meeting will take place at 2pm on Tuesday at the Television Centre's 600-seater theatre. She said: 'I'm going to be sending you an invite for a briefing happening tomorrow, which i's important you make every effort to attend.' In efforts to stop leaks from the briefing, there was no option to join the announcement digitally. Gormley wrote: 'I am sorry there's won't be the option to join virtually and we won't be recording the briefing, so we'd encourage you to please attend in person.' For those who can't attend, the top television executive said that 'someone from the Daytime leadership team will call you following the meeting to brief you.' It comes as Good Morning Britain is facing the biggest overhaul in its 11-year history as bosses try to cut costs. And the plans for a revamp have given rise to fears of a 'mutiny' behind the scenes, with job losses looking likely for off-camera staff. Executives want to retain much of the show's 'familiar feel', but they also hope the overhaul could narrow the gap with BBC Breakfast – which has led the ratings war between the pair. Around 400,000 viewers separate the two titans, with GMB now pulling in 700,000 at most and its BBC competitor regularly seeing more than a million tuning in. The revamp at ITV will see the breakfast show merged with the network's news operation, produced by ITN, alongside additional changes which are yet to be decided. One option could include moving to a new studio – sparking alarm among staff behind the scenes – and another involves plans to make the show more like BBC Breakfast. The shift to work with ITV News staff has prompted insiders to believe GMB will have a 'slightly more serious' approach than the current topical magazine format. These plans come a few months after ITV announced a new director of news and current affairs, Andrew Dagnell, who previously oversaw its network news output as editor of ITV News. Union chiefs representing those working on the show have expressed 'concern' in internal memos, but insiders say the well-regarded new appointment is a big fan of its existing stars and unlikely to wield the axe. A TV source said: 'Obviously any talk of major change starts panic – lots of the staff were immediately worried about the security of their jobs. 'This is about streamlining ITV's news output across the whole day, and having separate teams doubling up just doesn't make sense. 'So it may well be that some correspondents end up appearing across the whole day's schedule, rather than being specifically attached to GMB or ITV News. 'There could be a new set and a new feel, and a more continuous feel to ITV's news bulletins throughout the whole day as a result. 'But people are very much likely to lose their jobs so there is a lot of upset, anger and in some cases, mutiny.' Since Piers Morgan's dramatic departure from the show in 2021, original presenter Susanna Reid has been joined by a merry-go-round of co-stars. These have including Richard Madeley and former Labour politician Ed Balls – but none have proven to have the same drawing power as Morgan.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘I had dinner at a London rooftop bar with brilliant food and STUNNING city views'
I went to a rooftop bar in west London, and it turned out to be one of those unexpectedly delightful experiences that stick with you. Tucked away next to the iconic Television Centre in White City, The Broadcaster offered a cosy yet lively escape from the dreary weather outside. Upon arriving, we stepped into a lift with clear signage: G - pub and bar, 1 - dining room, 2 - the playroom, and 3 - rooftop bar. We were whisked away to the rooftop bar. Despite the recent burst of spring warmth giving way to dark clouds and drizzle, the weather only added to the atmosphere. From up high, we could see west London stretching out in the distance, with Westfield glowing under the stormy sky. There was something cinematic about the view—London in its moody glory. The Broadcaster had a way of making the bleakness outside feel vibrant with its warm lighting, stylish decor, and laid-back but buzzing energy. As we settled into our seats, we were handed two menus—one boasting an extensive drink selection and the other filled with tempting dishes. I started with the St Ives monkfish scampi with curry tartare, and I can safely say this was a winning choice. (Image: Ezekiel Bertrand) The batter was light, crisp, and golden, encasing tender, juicy pieces of monkfish that almost melted in my mouth. The curry tartare was a standout—creamy with a delicate spice that elevated the scampi without overpowering it. Alongside it, I went for the baked sourdough with whipped butter and sea salt. I'll admit, I'm always a little sceptical when I see 'sea salt' on a menu - is it really? Or just regular table salt in disguise? But this time, they weren't lying. The butter was silky smooth, and the salt crystals gave it the perfect kick. Simple but done exceptionally well. When it came to the main course, I was torn between two options: the beer-battered Cornish hake with triple-cooked chips, crushed peas, and house tartare or the 32-day dry-aged beef burger with smoked cheddar, bacon, truffle aioli, and skin-on fries. After much deliberation, I went with the burger—zero regrets. (Image: Ezekiel Bertrand) This was not your average burger. The patty was thick, juicy, and packed with rich, dry-aged flavour, perfectly complemented by the smokiness of the cheddar and bacon. The truffle aioli was a game-changer, adding a luxurious depth without being overwhelming. The skin-on fries were crispy, golden, and well-seasoned—a proper sidekick to an already standout dish. By this point, I was full—but there's always room for dessert. I went for the chocolate tart with ice cream, and it was the perfect end to the meal. The tart had a silky-smooth, rich chocolate filling with just the right amount of bitterness to balance out the sweetness. Paired with a scoop of ice cream, every bite was indulgent but not overpowering. (Image: Ezekiel Bertrand) To top it off, I ordered a glass of Baileys, because why not? The combination was pure bliss. The Broadcaster's rooftop bar isn't just about the food—it's about the whole experience. From the atmospheric view of west London under stormy skies to the warm, inviting space inside, it strikes the perfect balance between lively and relaxed. The menu is carefully crafted with high-quality ingredients and thoughtful flavour pairings that make every dish memorable. If you're looking for a rooftop spot in London with great food, a vibrant setting, and an unbeatable vibe, The Broadcaster is a must-visit. And if you're lucky enough to visit in the summer? Well, I'm already jealous.
