Fans of ITV's flagship morning show have been left reeling after presenter Christine Lampard confirmed her departure from Lorraine. The exit comes as part of a major overhaul of the broadcaster's weekday daytime schedule, set to take effect from January 2026.
Major ITV Shake-Up Forces Presenter Exits
Christine Lampard and fellow presenter Ranvir Singh are both leaving the Lorraine show after nearly a decade of hosting the Friday editions, standing in for Lorraine Kelly. The changes are a direct result of ITV's decision to cut the programme's runtime in half, from one hour to just 30 minutes, and to air it on a 'seasonal basis' for 30 weeks a year. Good Morning Britain will occupy the 9-10am slot for the remainder of the year.
Lampard shared the news with her followers in an emotional Instagram video, set to The Kinks' song 'Days'. She wrote a heartfelt caption reflecting on her time with the 'Lorraine family', stating: 'We’ve laughed, lunched and learnt so much from one another. Colleagues who have become the best of friends.'
Fan Reaction and Future Speculation
Viewers were quick to express their disappointment on social media, with many praising Lampard as the 'best presenter on TV'. One fan commented, 'Sorry to hear that Christine. I only watched when you were on,' while others immediately began speculating about her next career move.
A popular theory among fans is that Lampard could be in line to join Strictly Come Dancing, following the recent departures of hosts Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman. One supporter wrote, 'Oh no!!!! You are always excellent and you are my pick for @bbcstrictly host. Please let the reason you are leaving be that.' Another quipped, 'A huge miss!... or should I say, keeeeep dancing?!'
A Wider Wave of Change at ITV
Lampard is not the only familiar face leaving the programme. Dr. Hilary Jones has also confirmed he will step down from his role as the show's resident medic on December 31st. He described the move as 'liberating' but suggested he may return as a guest presenter occasionally.
The host of the show, Lorraine Kelly, has spoken openly about her sadness regarding the job losses resulting from the ITV cuts. She told BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs that the situation was 'very, very sad' and admitted she was 'disappointed' that her 'great team' would be broken up. She acknowledged, however, that 'things have to change', calling the overhaul 'seismic'.
The sweeping changes to ITV's daytime lineup mark a significant shift for the channel, with long-serving presenters moving on and programme formats being radically altered. All eyes will now be on where Christine Lampard's broadcasting career takes her next.
