Lorraine Kelly, 66, has opened up about the difficult period she faced after being sacked from her high-profile job at GMTV while on maternity leave, revealing how she felt as though she was “worried about existing” during those challenging early months of motherhood.
In an emotional interview on Pete Wicks’ Man Made podcast, Lorraine recalled the uncertainty she faced when, after welcoming her daughter Rosie in June 1992, she was informed that her job was no longer available. Just a week before her return to work, ITV bosses informed Lorraine that they were replacing her with another presenter, leaving her in a precarious financial situation.
A Dark Time for Lorraine Kelly
Reflecting on that dark period, Lorraine admitted that being a freelancer, with no guaranteed job security, made the experience even harder. “After I had my daughter, that was a really dark time; just after having a baby, you’re all over the place, and I got sacked, or didn’t get my contract renewed – virtually the same thing – and that was a very dark time,” she shared. “Everything’s just taken away from you, and you’re like, ‘What the hell am I gonna do?'”
At that time, Lorraine was living “contract to contract,” an exhausting and uncertain existence that left her constantly worrying about her future. “I really did live from contract to contract. You might get a year’s contract, or you might get two years if you’re lucky,” she explained. “It would have actually been really nice if someone had told me, ‘In 40 years you’re gonna still be doing it,'” she continued, referring to the constant anxiety she faced each time her contract was up for renewal.
Balancing Motherhood and Financial Stress
Lorraine also spoke candidly about the financial stress she faced, not only because of her own job insecurity but also due to her husband, Steve Smith, working as a freelancer too. The couple found it difficult to manage their mortgage during this time. “You could never quite relax or take things for granted, which I never do,” she confessed, describing how the fear of losing everything weighed on her.
Despite the financial strain and emotional toll, Lorraine remained focused on providing for her daughter and navigating the challenges of motherhood. “It was a very difficult time, but you just have to keep going,” she said, reflecting on how this experience shaped her understanding of the precariousness of the industry.
Adapting to ITV’s Changes and Her Granddaughter’s Impact
Fast-forwarding to the present day, Lorraine’s future at ITV is again uncertain due to sweeping cutbacks across the network, which have led to her daily breakfast show being reduced from a full hour to just 30 minutes a day. Despite this, Lorraine has managed to maintain a positive outlook, thanks in part to her granddaughter Billie, who was born in 2026.
“The birth of my granddaughter has changed my outlook,” she shared. “Since I became a granny, I’ve been able to live in the now, because [Billie] does. She’s not even two yet, but I will take fifteen minutes to look at a puddle, and it’s fantastic, and I will blow bubbles for hours.” Lorraine explained how Billie’s innocent joy and ability to be fully present has taught her to appreciate the little moments in life.
A Call for Better Representation of Working-Class Voices
In addition to discussing her personal struggles, Lorraine also reflected on her career and the challenges she faced as a working-class woman trying to break into the media industry. Lorraine grew up in Glasgow before moving to East Kilbride in her early teens, and at the start of her career, she faced significant barriers because of her working-class Scottish accent.
She recalled being “crushed” when she was rejected by the BBC due to her accent, but eventually, she was hired by the television network TV-am, where she started building her career. Lorraine is now an advocate for greater representation of working-class voices in the media. “I really worry about working-class people not being given the opportunity that I had,” she said, calling for a more diverse range of voices to be heard in the industry.
“These kids cannot afford to come to London, to live in London, because it’s impossible for them to do that. And therefore they can’t get the jobs that they absolutely should be allowed to do,” she continued. Lorraine emphasized that media should reflect the diverse backgrounds of the population, not just the elite or the loudest voices on social media. “If you’re only going to hear elite opinions, we’re never going to get anywhere,” she said, advocating for more representation of working-class people in the media.
A Journey of Growth: From Freelancer to Icon
Lorraine’s career has spanned several decades, and despite the ups and downs, she has remained a staple on daytime television. In the early days of her career, Lorraine applied for every job she could find, including one as a farming correspondent at BBC Aberdeen, despite knowing nothing about farming. “I applied for farming correspondent at BBC Aberdeen,” she recalled, laughing. “I mean I wouldn’t have known one end of a cow from another.”
Lorraine believes that becoming a mother made her a better presenter. “You have so much more empathy, you have so much more understanding,” she explained, sharing how motherhood shaped her work and her ability to connect with audiences.
Despite the challenges she’s faced, Lorraine has stayed true to herself on-air. When asked about her on-air persona, she admitted, “I am very much myself, but it’s a version of myself. If I was really myself, I’d be taken off the air.”
Looking Ahead: An Uncertain Future but a Grateful Heart
As Lorraine faces an uncertain future with ITV’s cutbacks, she remains grateful for the opportunities she’s had and the lessons she’s learned along the way. With the birth of her granddaughter and her continued advocacy for working-class voices, Lorraine is finding new ways to appreciate the present while staying grounded in her long career.
“Even now, I don’t know what’s going to happen, no one does,” Lorraine reflected. “But certainly, since I became a granny, I’ve been able to live in the now.”
Despite the challenges she’s faced over the years, Lorraine Kelly remains an iconic figure in the world of daytime television, continually adapting to change and finding ways to connect with her audience, no matter the circumstances.
