This Morning and Loose Women stars fear huge cull as ITV plans massive cuts
TV stars fear a huge cull as bosses look to make further cuts amid falling ratings and advertising revenues.
Sources say it’s “panic stations” with big-name contracts reviewed and shows such as Good Morning Britain frantically getting re-jigged.
Loose Women presenters could also be at risk following a recent diversity drive as ITV looks to save money, and keep backroom staff jobs safe.
Last night a source said: “It’s panic station time. The presenters’ contracts are under major review when they come to expire - normally in August or September - and further cuts have been warned of.”
Good Morning Britain’s Adil Ray and This Morning host Dermot O'Leary are among those “on 12-month contracts,” the source went on, “so theoretically are most likely to be in the firing line”.
But they added: “Dermot polls really well with viewers and absolutely no one wants him to go anywhere. So he’ll be safe.
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"Editors are so concerned they are sending staff daily ‘heat maps’ on ratings showing which items lost viewers.
"A few of the Loose Women are worried too, as so many new faces have been brought in and some have worked better than others.”
Meanwhile, GMB has undergone several changes in recent weeks in a desperate bid to keep viewers watching.
The source said: “It’s all pretty frenetic and a nervous time for all.”
Any cull is expected before September when ITV unveils its autumn schedule.
It comes three weeks after it announced 200 jobs are to go.
