Good Morning Britain presenters Susanna Reid and Ed Balls delivered a breaking news update concerning Sir Keir Starmer's tenure as Prime Minister on Monday, June 22. Camera crews were stationed outside Downing Street throughout the morning, with Susanna having previously suggested that significant news might emerge during the live broadcast.
GMB Extended to Cover Starmer's Potential Resignation
Ed remarked: "Newspapers would not be reporting it, and BBC and ITV would not be saying this on camera without any correction from 10 Downing Street unless it is true." Susanna continued: "Is Sir Keir Starmer announcing his resignation this morning? That could happen while we are on air, he could set out a timetable for his departure, and Carol Vorderman will tell us why she thinks Andy Burnham will be the Prime Minister." She subsequently confirmed that Good Morning Britain would extend until 10am, replacing Lorraine Kelly's programme, which typically begins at 9.30am.
Downing Street Prepares for Statement
As Downing Street prepared the podium ahead of an eagerly awaited statement, Susanna declared: "We are now in rolling news mode, we will be on air until 10am this morning because we've anticipated it all morning." Susanna and Ed also interviewed Education Minister Baroness Jacqui Smith, a regular GMB contributor, alongside ITV's Robert Peston and Carol Vorderman. Mounting pressure has built for Sir Keir to step down, despite his vow to remain Prime Minister on Friday.
By-Election Success Fuels Departure Reports
Following Andy Burnham's success in the Makerfield by-election, reports of Sir Keir's departure began to emerge. The scheduling shake-up arrives just days after Lorraine Kelly was temporarily replaced on her ITV programme by stand-in presenters Josie Gibson and Ruth Langsford, while she was away in America for Scotland's World Cup match.
ITV's Recent Scheduling Changes
In the past, Christine Lampard and Ranvir Singh would typically step in to present for Lorraine during her seasonal breaks. Nevertheless, ITV has implemented a succession of significant changes in recent months, with Lorraine's former one-hour slot now reduced to merely half an hour, broadcasting for only 30 weeks annually, while Good Morning Britain extends into This Morning for the remainder of the year.
Lorraine previously addressed the changes, vowing: "We're still here." She continued to The Evening Standard: "Hopefully the audience will still stay with us, because that's the most important thing to me, is you know, that the audience are still enjoying what I do and the fact that people are so kind and they still watch after all these years and when I go out and about, people greet me like their friend, which is really, really lovely. And I don't think that happens to all that many people. You know that you've got that connection, primarily because I've been doing it for so long, but it's something that I never, ever take for granted, and I never take any of this for granted. I really don't, because it's, it's an honour."
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV1 and ITVX.
