Good Morning Britain is reportedly set to undergo a major transformation in the show’s history. With the likes of Ed Balls, Susanna Reid, and Kate Garraway fronting the ITV morning show every weekday from 6am, the long-running programme has become a permanent fixture in the daytime television schedule.
The show first hit the airwaves back in April 2014 after it underwent a similar format overhaul – where it was previously known as GMTV which dissolved in 2010. It’s fair to say GMB has never been one to shy away from controversy, with the morning stalwart boasting a reputation for fiery debates. But the cast’s future is said to be hanging in the balance as a huge shake-up could result in job losses.
A source told MailOnline that bosses are keen to increase the show’s ratings, given that BBC Breakfast is currently beating GMB in the figures war by 400,000.
With more than one million viewers tuning in for the Beeb’s alternative in comparison with GMB’s 700,000, it is understood ITV bosses want to give the show a revamp.
All changes are yet to be decided, but one option is moving to a new studio, while another is fiddling around with the format to make GMB more ‘serious’. It’s also been claimed that the breakfast programme will be merged with ITV’s news operation, produced by ITN.
Union chiefs representing those working on GMB are thought to have voiced ‘concern’ via internal memos that the plans will put people’s employment at risk. However, insiders claim this isn’t certain.
A TV source began: “Obviously, any talk of major change starts panic – lots of 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.”
They added that the makeover could lead to a “new set and a new feel, and a more continuous feel to ITV’s news bulletins throughout the whole day as a result.”
The insider continued: “But people are very much likely to lose their jobs, so there is a lot of upset, anger and, in some cases, mutiny.” Good Morning Britain covers a variety of segments, including world news, entertainment, weather, politics, sports, and competitions, as well as local news.
Over the years, it has also aired several spin-off shows, such as GMB today – which was a temporary for Lorraine during its 2017 summer break.
The following year, a special edition titled Good Evening Britain followed the England vs. Belgium World Cup football match and included live celebrity reactions.
Special episodes have also covered Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding, tributes to Sir Captain Tom Moore after his death, and the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
Time slot-wise, GMB not only competes with BBC Breakfast but also Sky News Breakfast with Kay Burley, and GB News Breakfast with Eamonn Holmes.
The show is currently hosted by Reid, Garraway, Balls, Charlotte Hawkins, Ranvir Singh, Richard Madeley, Adil Ray, and Robert Rinder.