Lorraine Kelly has recalled being left in a “state of shock” after learning she had been replaced on GMTV while she was on maternity leave.
The presenter discussed the experience on Pete Wicks’ Man Made podcast, recalling how the decision came shortly after the birth of her daughter, Rosie, in June 1994.
Kelly had been due to return to the breakfast programme later that year, but was told that Anthea Turner had taken her place alongside Eamonn Holmes. The news reportedly came only weeks before her planned return.
Speaking about the impact of losing the role, Kelly said she was working as a freelancer and had no guarantee of job security or maternity pay. She described the period as particularly difficult because she and her husband, cameraman Steve Smith, had recently moved south and taken on a mortgage. ([femalefirst.co.uk](https://www.femalefirst.co.uk/tv/news/lorraine-kelly-worried-existing-after-sacked-gmtv-1441115.html?utm_source=openai))
Kelly later returned to GMTV to present a mother-and-baby feature. The slot was supported by Cow & Gate, which agreed to sponsor it on the condition that Kelly presented the segment, according to an interview with The Guardian.
The opportunity eventually led to her hosting her own programme, first under the title Lorraine Live and later Lorraine, which became a long-running fixture on ITV’s daytime schedule. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/mar/08/lorraine-kelly-interview-im-like-the-tv-lorraine-just-more-sweary-the-island-swimmer?utm_source=openai))
