Lorraine Kelly, 66, has spoken candidly about the emotional toll of her ITV daytime show being reduced from a full-year schedule of 52 weeks to just 30 weeks at the start of 2026. The presenter admitted the transition was "really hard" as she faced uncertainty and had to say goodbye to many colleagues.
Impact of Budget Cuts on Lorraine's Show
The reduction in airtime came as part of ITV's budget cuts, leaving Lorraine with significantly more free time. While she has embraced the change, she confessed to Best UK that the initial period was challenging. "At first, I wasn’t sure. Back at the start of the year, I’ll be honest with you, I was like ‘Oh, how’s this going to work?’ and of course, I had to say bye to so many of my friends that I work with, the team, and that was really hard," she said.
Despite the difficulties, Lorraine has found a new rhythm, working in blocks: "I get to work for like two and a half months on, two months off, two and a half months on, two months off. The show is shorter, but we still get a lot in there."
New Book 'The Island Secret'
Lorraine has channeled her extra time into writing, completing her second novel, 'The Island Secret', the follow-up to her debut 'The Island Swimmer'. She reflected on the process, noting it confirmed her passion for writing. "I think what I’ve realised more than anything else is this is what I love to do. Don’t get me wrong, I love my TV job…but I’ve got so much free time now," she explained.
The extra time allowed her to dedicate herself fully to the craft, unlike before when she had to squeeze writing into early morning hours or sacrifice holidays. "I can really concentrate on writing, instead of trying to fit it in at one o’clock in the morning, or saying to my husband, ‘Sorry, we can’t go on holiday because I’m writing,’" she added.
Embracing Family Time and Grandmotherhood
Earlier this year, Lorraine told the Radio Times she was "not bothered" about appearing less on television, highlighting the benefits of spending more time with family. She particularly cherishes moments with her granddaughter, Billie, whom she described as "human sunshine."
Lorraine also noted a newfound patience: "I’ve got so much more time and patience now. I don’t mind sitting for an hour reading stories or looking at a plant for ten minutes, or just watching a bee."
The presenter, who has been on television for 42 years, remains positive about the changes, focusing on the joy her new schedule brings rather than the reduction in screen time.
