ITV Halts Lorraine Broadcast in Major Daytime Schedule Change
The popular morning show, Lorraine, will experience a significant disruption in its airing schedule next month. This adjustment is part of a broader shake-up at ITV aimed at accommodating live broadcasts of the Cheltenham Festival.
Schedule Changes for ITV’s Daytime Programming
The Cheltenham Festival is set to take place from Monday, March 9, to Friday, March 13. During this week, both Lorraine and the program Loose Women will be temporarily paused. As a result, ITV will extend Good Morning Britain to a four-hour format, airing from 6 AM to 10 AM.
Detailed Breakdown of the New Schedule
- Good Morning Britain: 6 AM – 10 AM
- Lorraine: Off-air for the whole week
- This Morning: 10 AM – 12:30 PM (remains unchanged)
- ITV Racing Coverage: Starting at 12:30 PM daily throughout the festival
These alterations follow previous changes implemented last month due to budget cuts. The reduction has affected more than 200 behind-the-scenes jobs and prompted a reevaluation of ITV’s daytime lineup.
Last year, it was announced that Good Morning Britain would gain an extra half hour, extending its airing from 6 AM to 9:30 AM. Consequently, Lorraine’s broadcast was shortened to just 30 minutes, from 9:30 AM to 10 AM.
ITV’s Commitment to Quality Programming
Kevin Lygo, ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, spoke about the importance of daytime television. He emphasized that these programming changes aim to provide viewers with news, debate, and discussion that they value. The adjustments are also designed to optimize resources, allowing ITV to reinvest in various programs.
As ITV continues to adapt to viewer needs, the focus remains on providing accurate and trustworthy journalism during a time when reliable news coverage is more crucial than ever.
