Lorraine Kelly set to be offered BBC move
BBC bosses are reportedly working on a number of projects they hope to tempt Lorraine Kelly with.
Lorraine Kelly is reportedly set for a high-profile move to the BBC.
The 66-year-old broadcaster has been a part of ITV's morning programming for over 40 years, joining TV-am in 1984 and being one of the launch presenters of GMTV in 1993, but after a series of budget cuts by the network, she may be tempted by a change.
BBC insiders are said to be developing a number of potential projects for Lorraine - whose titular morning show has been slashed from one hour to 30 minutes and now only airs 30 weeks a year, instead of all year round - because they know how popular she is with viewers.
A source told the Mail on Sunday newspaper there is a "real buzz around the development team" over the prospect of working with Lorraine.
The insider added: "She's stayed loyal to ITV for more than four decades, but the BBC know the time is right to finally get her. They are currently creating different shows to present to her.
"There is no better way to get her revenge than to start working for the BBC. Lorraine is popular and she's a professional.
"She's also so relatable, she's in her mid-60s, like so many viewers. There are some BBC bosses who think she will be just perfect."
ITV insiders wouldn't be surprised if Lorraine jumps ship.
A source said: "Lorraine was devastated by the culling of her show and the staff working on it.
"Now the BBC have come knocking, it's unlikely she will stay at ITV. It would literally be the biggest defection from ITV to the Beeb in many years."
The Scottish star previously admitted she was "disappointed" by the "seismic" cuts being made to her ITV show, particularly after a number of people who had worked on the show lost their jobs.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs, she said: "I was disappointed, of course I was. This is the world that we live in now.
"Things have to change, I mean, I've been through so many regime changes in my life.
"For me, this is just another one, but it's seismic. The thing that has upset me the most is the fact that we've got this great team, and obviously, that's not going to be in place next year because jobs will go.
"Hopefully I'll be able to hang on to some of these amazing people - that's my aim. It's very, very sad. It really is."
