ITV cuts hit off screen staff

ITV restructures daytime programming with a large cut to off screen roles while high profile presenters remain in place.

ITV cuts hit off screen staff while top names stay

ITV plans to axe more than 200 off screen roles as part of a daytime programming overhaul. Good Morning Britain will merge with ITV News, but top presenters including Susanna Reid, Richard Madeley, Julie Etchingham and Tom Bradby will remain in post for now. Madeley has signed a six month extension; Kate Garraway is said to be safe and Adil Ray’s shifts may be cut; Noel Edmonds' comeback was axed after a single series. The changes also hit Loose Women and Lorraine, with reductions in airtime and transmission length.

Backstage staff have reacted with anger, saying the cuts hit the workers who keep the show running while the stars stay put. An insider told Mail Online that the focus is on trimming pennies rather than talent, and the changes will be felt in every department as more roles are cut.

The plan reveals a familiar tension in modern media: star power protected at the expense of behind the scenes craft. When a network relies on marquee names to attract audiences, the people who actually produce the shows can become disposable. If this trend continues, it could undermine continuity, reduce opportunities for rising talent, and lower morale across departments. In the long run, the health of daytime programming may depend on investing in the teams that shape what audiences see and hear.

Highlights

The broadcast landscape is reshaping how shows are built and who builds them.