ITV's chief executive has confessed to losing sleep over a major restructuring plan that will see more than 220 staff members lose their jobs and popular daytime shows like Loose Women and Lorraine significantly reduced.
CEO's Sleepless Nights Over 'Very Difficult' Cuts
Speaking at a red-carpet event before Christmas, Dame Carolyn McCall, the former easyJet boss now leading ITV, opened up about the emotional toll of the broadcaster's shake-up. She admitted the planned cuts, set to take effect next week, had personally affected her.
"I did lose sleep over this," Dame Carolyn told The Mail's Richard Eden. "These are not easy things. From a human point of view, it's very difficult." She emphasised the company's duty of care, stating ITV would treat affected staff well and be open throughout the process.
Fate of Daytime Favourites Revealed
The strategic overhaul, first announced in May 2025, is designed to generate substantial savings for the broadcaster. A key part of the plan involves cutting the annual broadcast schedules for two of its flagship programmes.
According to reports, both Lorraine and Loose Women will now air for just 30 weeks per year, a drastic reduction from their previous output. Dame Carolyn confirmed the shows would continue, calling it a "sensible decision" in light of evolving viewer behaviour.
"You're going to see Loose Women. You're going to see Lorraine," she assured fans. "Viewing habits have changed - we can't deny that. This makes daytime [television] more resilient."
Financial Pressures and Star's Plea
The cuts come amid significant financial pressure on ITV's traditional advertising revenue, which panellist Janet Street-Porter described as "diminishing hugely" in a podcast interview in July 2025. She revealed the number of shows had ballooned over the years and needed scaling back.
Street-Porter, a staunch defender of Loose Women, disclosed she had personally lobbied ITV Studios managing director Kevin Lygo. She argued the show performs a "valuable service" by discussing topics relevant to women with humour and straightforwardness.
When asked if the show would continue, she responded emphatically: "Yes, course it's carrying on! Of course it's carrying on. It's carrying on for 30 weeks of next year and maybe more if I can bully Kevin Lygo into submission." She later clarified the bullying remark was metaphorical.
While the iconic shows survive in a reduced form, the human cost of ITV's new strategy remains, with over 220 employees facing redundancy as the broadcaster adapts to a changing media landscape.
