ITV have confirmed that Loose Women and Lorraine Kelly's breakfast talk show Lorraine will be cancelled until further notice as a result of the coronavirus outbreak. In a statement, the broadcaster wrote: "ITV Daytime has taken the decision to stop broadcasting Lorraine and Loose Women live from Monday 23rd March. This decision has been made to minimise the number of staff travelling in and out of our studios and working together on shift at any one time.
"We're focusing our efforts on providing to viewers the latest news on the rapidly changing situation which aims to offer some stability and continuity in all our lives whilst so many of us are at home right now. That’s why we have taken this tough decision to protect our GMB News programme in the morning and keep This Morning on air for as long as possible."
© Photo: ITVThe two shows have been cancelled
They went on: "From Monday we will be running an extended version of Good Morning Britain from 0600 until 10am. At 9am Lorraine Kelly will join Piers in the GMB studio for the last hour and then hand straight over to the This Morning studio with Phillip and Holly as usual running from 10am until 1230pm. We will then run some of our most favourite repeat episodes of Loose Women from 12.30pm to 1.30pm to give viewers something to smile about each day at lunchtime.
READ: Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield announce uplifting change to This Morning
"We have been reducing our crew numbers over the last week and these changes will enable us to reduce them further and help us build further resilience with the aim of Daytime content continuing to air for as long as possible. Safeguarding the well-being of everyone involved with our programmes is our priority and in this dynamically developing situation we will obviously continue to review these new arrangements on a day by day basis and follow at all times the latest PHE and WHO guidelines.
WATCH: Phillip Schofield hints at This Morning's uncertain future
Phillip Schofield had previously hinted that This Morning might be cancelled, telling a guest that they were "holding on by a thread" on Wednesday's show. Loose Woman and Lorraine are the latest in a line of programmes that have been put on hold during the virus outbreak, including EastEnders, Line of Duty and Peaky Blinders.
Meanwhile, Coronation Street and Emmerdale bosses have announced that they will continue filming the two soaps in a statement which read: "The continued transmission of both soaps is a priority to all of us at ITV and to our audiences who enjoy the shows. Whilst carefully adhering to the latest health advice from the Government and Public Health England, our production teams are continuing to film episodes in Manchester and Leeds.
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"With this change of transmission pattern it will ensure we have great new soap episodes coming to air every weekday night until at least the early summer. With effect from Monday 30 March Coronation Street and Emmerdale's scheduling pattern will be changing due to the coronavirus pandemic. Emmerdale will air Monday to Friday at 7pm and Coronation Street Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 7.30pm."
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