ITV recently announced a shake-up in its daytime schedules in the wake of the Jeremy Kyle scandal and subsequent cancellation.
Both Good Morning Britain and This Morning are set to be extended in the shake-up, but controversy has already hit the move.
Reports claim that a ‘race row’ has kicked off behind the scenes at GMB after Charlotte Hawkins was handed a new 30-minute slot ahead of her BAME colleagues.
Read more: Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid reduce Charlotte Hawkins to tears on GMB
The Sun reports that staff are ‘furious’ that presenters of colour – such as Ranvir Singh and Sean Fletcher – were overlooked in favour of Charlotte.
The new slot, the newspaper says, is from 6am, half an hour before main hosts Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid take over.
But the move has ‘divided staff’ behind the scenes.
A source was quoted as saying: “The plan is to give Charlotte her own half-hour, but that’s caused uproar from staff concerned about diversity — especially because Ranvir and Sean would be the other two options.
They are both BAME and were both unfairly demoted by bosses, which has left a bitter taste.
“They are both BAME and were both unfairly demoted by bosses, which has left a bitter taste.
“This is nothing personal against Charlotte, who is a lovely lady and well-liked. But she already has a job as newsreader.”
ED! has contacted ITV for comment.
Read more: Piers Morgan hints he’ll quite Good Morning Britain at end of year
ITV has now revealed that the morning schedule will be given a shake-up in the New Year.
From January 6, Good Morning Britain will be extended by half an hour to run from 6am until 9am, Lorraine will move to 9am, followed at 10am by This Morning, also extended by 30 minutes, before Loose Women at 12.30pm, ending at 1.30pm.
Emma Gormley, Managing Director ITV Daytime, which produces all of the shows, said: “The ITV daytime teams consists of the very best on screen and off screen talent in the business, enabling us to set the agenda from early morning until the afternoon, as we pass the baton from show to show.
“We can’t wait to bring our audiences an even greater abundance of personalities, surprises, warmth and humour and a bigger and better schedule for 2020.”
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