Quick Read
- ITV aired pre-recorded Christmas morning specials featuring Ben Shephard and others.
- Viewers criticized the lack of live content and family programming, calling the schedule ‘awful.’
- ITV announced major changes to its morning lineup starting January 2026, including shorter slots for Lorraine and Loose Women.
Christmas morning, a time often associated with television traditions and the comfort of live broadcasts, felt distinctly different on ITV in 2025. Instead of the usual energetic live shows, viewers were met with pre-recorded specials featuring familiar faces, including Ben Shephard, Cat Deeley, and Lorraine Kelly. But what was meant as festive programming quickly became the focal point of public frustration, sparking a social media storm and raising questions about the future of British morning television.
As reported by DevonLive, Mirror, and Wales Online, ITV’s decision to shake up its daytime schedule for Christmas did not land well with its loyal audience. Good Morning Britain, typically anchored live by Susanna Reid and Richard Madeley, started later than usual at 7am. The show, along with Lorraine and other morning staples, was pre-recorded well before Christmas Day. Some viewers felt cheated by the lack of live, spontaneous moments that usually define holiday broadcasts.
One viewer captured the sentiment succinctly: “Pre-recorded rubbish all morning of the same shows which are on 52 weeks of the year. How about something different for a change? Christmas TV used to be special.” Social feeds filled with similar messages, with some calling the schedule “the worst ever seen on ITV.” Others lamented the absence of children’s or family-friendly programming, suggesting the network had missed the mark on what makes Christmas morning truly memorable for British families.
Ben Shephard, a regular and trusted face on ITV’s morning lineup, found himself at the center of this debate—not for any personal controversy, but as part of a broader conversation about the evolving nature of TV. His presence in the pre-recorded specials was noted by viewers, but the format itself was the real lightning rod. For some, the pre-recorded approach felt ‘lazy,’ lacking the spark and immediacy that live television brings, especially during the festive season.
The criticism comes at a pivotal moment for ITV. As DevonLive details, the broadcaster has confirmed sweeping changes to its morning schedule set to begin in January 2026. Among the most notable adjustments: Lorraine will be reduced from its traditional hour-long slot to just 30 minutes, airing seasonally for 30 weeks each year. Good Morning Britain will be extended to three and a half hours, and up to four hours during periods when Lorraine is off air. Loose Women, another daytime staple, will also see its schedule trimmed to match a format last used in 2016.
ITV’s Managing Director of Media and Entertainment, Kevin Lygo, framed these changes as necessary for both operational savings and reinvestment across genres. “Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres,” Lygo explained. He also emphasized the broadcaster’s commitment to accurate, unbiased news, particularly as it seeks to consolidate and expand its news operations.
For Ben Shephard and his colleagues, the changes represent both a challenge and an opportunity. The outcry over Christmas programming shows just how connected viewers feel to the morning TV experience, and how resistant they are to shifts in tradition. Yet, it also highlights the need for broadcasters to adapt, balancing nostalgia with the realities of production, budgets, and changing viewer habits.
Looking ahead, ITV’s morning lineup will see Good Morning Britain air from 6am on weekdays, with This Morning maintaining its regular slot but moving to a new central London studio. The shake-up will affect not just on-screen personalities but also behind-the-scenes staff, with Lygo acknowledging the impact on production teams and promising support during the transition.
The viewer backlash to the 2025 Christmas schedule—while pointed—serves as a reminder that television is both a public trust and a business. Ben Shephard, as one of the faces of ITV, is emblematic of this dynamic. His role in the pre-recorded specials wasn’t the issue; it was the feeling of a lost tradition, the absence of live energy, and perhaps a broader anxiety about what the future of TV holds as schedules and formats evolve.
ITV’s Christmas programming controversy, centered on Ben Shephard and his fellow presenters, signals a wider reckoning for British morning television. Viewers’ passionate response underscores the emotional weight of tradition and live connection, pushing broadcasters to reconsider how best to balance efficiency with audience expectations as they move into a new era.