- Have YOU got a story? Email tips@dailymail.com
Good Morning Britain has made a controversial change in a bid to lower costs amid a slew of cuts to ITV daytime.
In May, bosses announced a major shakeup to their offering of shows, with GMB, Lorraine and This Morning booted from their existing studios from next year.
Lorraine and Loose Women face the brunt of the cuts, with GMB’s programme to be merged with ITN, who produce ITV News.
Now it’s been revealed channel execs have axed its US office for the first time in the award-winning show’s history.
The Sun reported how the move means Good Morning Britain will no longer have a dedicated team across the pond to cover big stories across current affairs and entertainment.
A source told the publication how the show, which is anchored by Susanna Reid and launched in 2014, will likely use ITN’s main news hub in the US for reports.
Good Morning Britain has made a controversial change to the programme in a bid to lower costs amid a slew of cuts to ITV daytime
In May it was revealed how Good Morning Britain would be relocating studios and merging its teams with ITN to save cash
It’s been revealed how the long-running show has now axed its North American office in a move that’s been described as a ‘brazen pivot away from journalism’
They said: ‘They have completely axed their American operation, with the intensity of the news cycle in the US as it is – especially now, with a president who is making headlines daily.
‘How does that make any sense?
‘These cuts are a disaster in the making. The way they have gone about all of this is messy and it is devastating for us all.’
The source added it was a ‘shortsighted’ move and a ‘brazen pivot away from journalism’ that will result in ‘genuine, good quality people’ leaving the show.
However, a spokesperson for ITV said: ‘ITV is currently in consultation over proposed changes and no final decisions have been made on redundancies.
‘ITV News has a significant presence across North America and its award winning bureau will continue to provide Viewers with trusted international news.’
In May, ITV previously announced how Lorraine and Loose Women have been axed for half the year and Lorraine’s runtime has been slashed by 30 minutes.
Host Lorraine Kelly faced the brunt of the cuts with Good Morning Britain now taking her 9-10am slot for 22 weeks of the year.
A spokesperson said ‘ITV is currently in consultation over proposed changes’ and that ‘no final decisions have been made on redundancies’
Good Morning Britain is also set to take Lorraine Kelly’s 9am to 10am slot when her programme moves to a seasonal schedule at the end of this year
For the remaining 30 weeks of the year, Lorraine will present five days a week, meaning her Friday stand-in presenters Ranvir Singh and Christine Lampard are no longer needed for the show.
Meanwhile, last month Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women’s new home was revealed ahead of their big move.
Currently they’re located at Television Centre in White City, West London where ITV has been located since it vacated its former home on the South Bank in 2018.
According to The Sun, the three daytime staples will relocate to The Hospital Club in Convent Garden, taking studio space located on the basement floor.
Good Morning Britain airs weekdays on ITV1 from 6am and is available to stream on ITVX.
