GMTV (“Good Morning Television”) debuted in the United Kingdom on 1 January 1993, presented by Eamonn Holmes and Anne Davies. The original main weekday presenters were Fiona Armstrong and Michael Wilson.
Within six weeks of broadcasting, ITV had lost 2 million viewers, and the new franchise was dubbed ‘Grinning Morons Television’ by some critics.
By February, widespread changes saw Michael Wilson moved to a new ‘news-focused’ slot from 6.00 to 7.00 am (which in 1994 became the Reuters News Hour), and Fiona Armstrong was replaced by Lorraine Kelly, with her former position as presenter of the post 9.00 am slot Top of the Morning taken up by Fern Britton.
Sally Meen became the new weather presenter, while Penny Smith joined from Sky News to become the main newsreader.
The weekday breakfast magazine programme was transmitted daily from 6.00 am until 8:25 (9:25 on Friday), followed by GMTV with Lorraine (Monday to Thursday) until the regional ITV franchises took over at 9:25 am.
In July 1994, Anthea Turner joined GMTV to present the summer holiday feature Fun in the Sun alongside Mr Motivator before being paired up with Holmes to present the main programme.
Turner left the station on 24 December 1996 after a dramatic falling out between the pair, which finally resulted in Holmes publicly calling her “Princess Tippy Toes”. Fiona Phillips took over her role on 6 January 1997.
Holmes left in 2005, deeply unhappy with the “dumbing down and commercialisation”, which resulted in him hating his bosses.
GMTV was relaunched on 5 January 2009, with Emma Crosby and Kirsty McCabe replacing Fiona Phillips and Andrea McLean.
On 4 March 2010, it was announced that presenter and newsreader Penny Smith was leaving GMTV, with presenter John Stapleton being redeployed as special correspondent.
Two days later, GMTV Kids presenters Jamie Rickers and Anna Williamson were made redundant.
Other departures included Ben Shephard and Andrew Castle.
On 9 July, it was confirmed that a new ITV breakfast programme, named Daybreak, would replace GMTV from 6 September and that GMTV with Lorraine would become a standalone programme with the title Lorraine.
The final edition of the show was broadcast on 3 September 2010.
Presenters Fiona Armstrong
Michael Wilson
Eamonn Holmes
Anne Davies
Fern Britton
Amanda Redington
Fiona Phillips
Penny Smith
Lorraine Kelly
Ross Kelly
Anthea Turner
John Stapleton
Vanessa Feltz
Matthew Lorenzo
Alastair Stewart
Jenni Falconer
Kate Garraway
Ben Shephard
Bob Wilson
Steve Richards
Michael Underwood
Emma Crosby
Sally Meen
Derek Brockway
Andrea McLean
Simon Keeling
You May Also Like
Heartburn Hotel 1 9 9 8 (UK) 6 x 30 minute episodes 1 x Christmas special 2 0…
Goodnight, Beantown 1 9 8 3 - 1 9 8 4 (USA) 18 x 30 minute episodes Bill Bixby,…
Within six weeks of broadcasting, ITV had lost 2 million viewers, and the new franchise was dubbed ‘Grinning Morons Television’ by some critics.
On 4 March 2010, it was announced that presenter and newsreader Penny Smith was leaving GMTV, with presenter John Stapleton being redeployed as special correspondent.
