Transition from ITV Breakfast to ITV Studios
In March 2011, ITV announced that it was incorporating Daybreak into its ITV News operation as part of a management restructure. [10] In July of that year, it was announced that production of the slot, along with that of sister programme Lorraine, would be taken over by ITV Studios. [11]
In August, This Morning executive Karl Newton was being charged with the transition to ITV Studios and was revamping the slot to give it 'one last throw of the dice' to boost its ratings. [12] On 2 September, ITV announced that former BBC Breakfast Chief, David Kermode (formerly editor of 5 News ) was to take over as editor of the programme from 1 December, heralding a major revamp to the presenting team and the format. [13] [14] On 6 September, Daybreak celebrated its first anniversary on air. Two days later, Paul Connolly (the deputy editor) had departed from Daybreak. [15]
Relaunch
On 12 December 2011, it was reported that Daybreak would target 'hassled mums' as part of its refreshed focus [16] and format changes, and a new presenting team were expected to be introduced in April 2012; however, these plans were delayed. [17] On 26 April, it was reported that ITV was to move Daybreak to the studio currently used by sister programme Lorraine . [18]
On 19 November 2011, it was reported that original presenters Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley had been axed. Chiles confirmed that they were to depart from Daybreak in the New Year; however, they left on 5 December, stating that 'we were assured we could go with our dignity intact'. [19] [20] [21] Dan Lobb and Kate Garraway took over on an interim basis, until new presenters were announced. [22] On 8 December, ITV chief executive Adam Crozier defended the decision of hiring Chiles and Bleakley, saying it was necessary to 'take a risk'. [23]
On 4 May 2012, Aled Jones and Lorraine Kelly were confirmed by ITV as the new permanent presenters. [24] Jones said 'I am thoroughly looking forward to sharing the sofa every morning with such a consummate professional as Lorraine Kelly.' [25] [26] [27] [28]
On 28 May, Ranvir Singh announced she was leaving BBC North West Tonight to join Daybreak, where she would present the first hour of the slot. [29] On 11 June, 5 News presenter Matt Barbet was confirmed as Singh's co-presenter. [30]
On 28 August, it was confirmed Singh would become the newsreader following the first hour of Daybreak, and that BBC Weather presenter Laura Tobin was joining the slot. [1] [31] Garraway would present Daybreak on Fridays and cover for full-time host Lorraine Kelly in a new two-year contract. [32]
On 28 August, the new Daybreak logo was unveiled. [33] The revamped format was launched on 3 September; this was greeted with a mixed reaction from viewers on social media, with some newspapers reporting that viewers reacted negatively to the 'old fashioned' garish set. However, some viewers liked the change and praised the step back to the original format of GMTV which the core audience had asked to return. [34] Despite the changes to the ailing format, the first edition of the new-look Daybreak drew only 600,000 viewers. [35] Throughout September, the programme averaged around 700,000 viewers, as viewers begun to warm to the original GMTV-style format and new presenters. In October, ratings continued to average at 700,000 viewers, occasionally peaking at 800,000 viewers.
On 15 February 2014, Kelly announced she was to leave Daybreak later in the year. She had signed a new contract to now present Lorraine each Monday to Friday. [36] [37]
On 4 April (three weeks before the final edition of Daybreak), Barbet co-presented for the final time, which made him the fourth presenter to leave after Chiles, Bleakley and Lobb. On 10 April, Kelly presented her final Daybreak before her Easter break, to concentrate on Lorraine, as part of a new contract she was offered. On 25 April, Daybreak officially came to an end, hosted by Jones and Garraway.
