Katie Piper

Loose Women’s Katie Piper’s admits future is in doubt as show prepares for huge changes

Katie Piper has admitted she is unsure on her Loose Women future as ITV get ready to have a huge daytime television shake up

Katie Piper
Katie Piper doesn’t know what her future holds(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

Katie Piper has candidly admitted she doesn’t know what the future holds for her Loose Women role. The presenter is among a number of stars who could see their time on the show cut short due to the impending huge changes on the ITV panel show.

She has admitted she is currently in the dark about her future as the new look Daytime line-up gets ready to launch in January. The changes will see Loose Women switch to just being a seasonal show.

Elsewhere, Good Morning Britain will be extended, chopping Lorraine episodes to just 30 minutes. For the Loose Women panel, they will only be on air seasonally, running for just 30 weeks.

READ MORE: Loose Women star hits out at ‘cruel’ cuts by ITV ahead of schedule changesREAD MORE: Alison Hammond admits relief over This Morning’s NTA win after string of scandals

Katie Piper on Loose Women
Katie Piper on Loose Women(Image: ITV)

Speaking of the switch-up, Katie admitted she doesn’t know what is coming her way. When asked by The Sun about the situation at the National Television Awards, she admitted: “You’d have to ask the producers that. I don’t know.”

The decision to drop the show’s 100-strong audience will also see bosses remove the need for extra security and a warm-up act. But the move is said to have angered a number of the regular panellists who feed off the audience interaction.

The cost-cutting measure also sees This Morning and GMB move away from its current home at BBC Studioworks Television Centre.

Loose Women panel
The show is going to have some big changes(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

And in July, the big changes at Loose Women were explained in full. The iconic lunchtime chat show, which is best known for its bold debates and A-list guests, is reportedly getting ready to cut celebrity interviews completely from January as part of the channel’s sweeping budget cuts.

Instead, it’s said the high-profile bookings will now be prioritised for Lorraine and This Morning. This will leave Loose Women to rely solely on its panel discussions of the day’s news and lifestyle topics.

“Not having guests is a big blow for both the presenters and viewers at home,” an insider revealed at the time. “The celebrity interviews are often one of the highlights of the show and bring a unique energy you don’t get on other programmes. It feels like a strange decision to cut them altogether.”

It will also only air for 30 weeks of the year rather than its usual 52, meaning production time will be slashed by nearly in half.

And speaking of cutting the audience, Nadia Sawalha admitted she was “devastated” by the news. It also meant that f her close friend and warm-up artist Lee Peart has lost his job as a result.

“The audience is so important for the show,” Nadia said. “What a lot of people don’t realise is that we’re self-employed. Every contract is a new contract – I could be let go tomorrow or in five years. It’s brutal.”

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Ben Shephard shares ‘bucket list moment’ as he enjoys break from This Morning

Ben Shephard delighted fans as he continued to celebrate his milestone 50th birthday.

Ben Shephard has delighted fans by sharing his “bucket list moment” amid his break from This Morning.

The former Good Morning Britain presenter, 50, has been celebrating his milestone birthday over recent months with a series of challenges he set himself.

He’s been keeping his Instagram followers updated along the way, as he vowed to be “the fittest I’ve ever been” before his 50th birthday.

Before turning 50 in December, Ben attempted cold water swimming, walking 5k and braving ice baths.

He’s now continued his celebrations with a family trip to Australia.

Sharing a peek into his travels with his sons, Ben wrote: “ So this is just a little bit exciting!!!!

Ben Shephard
Ben Shephard has delighted fans with an Instagram update(Image: ITV)

“As part of my 50th year celebrations continue (have I mentioned I’ve turned 50) a proper bucket list moment, as we’ve just landed in Australia with the family – to support the British and Irish Lions across their tests!!!!

“I’m doing a bit of work but mostly doing a lot of cheering, supporting and merch acquiring…Lions Suitcases anyone.

“Can’t wait for later – thoughts on the score??? Also in Brisbane for a few days any recommends will be gratefully received!”

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Fans and friends alike rushed to share their support, with Loose Women ’s Katie Piper writing: “That’s such a great thing to do as a family.”

“So exciting,” This Morning regular Ashley James said, while Helen Skelton wrote: “What an adventure,” and Gaby Roslin said: “Have an amazing adventure.”

Ben Shephard
Ben has been taking on a series of challenges over the last few months(Image: Instagram/ @benshephardofficial)

Carol Vorderman shared her own anecdote, commenting: “Omg Ben I was filming in Brizzie and across Queensland in 1989 (it was very different then) and bumped into the Lions in a bar in Cairns Took me days to recover but what a laugh First time I ever had shots of tequila … it wasn’t a “thing” 40 years ago Bloody hell… life’s never dull Have a great great time.”

“Have fun big man there is some@great place to eat out there enjoy,” Jamie Oliver added.

Ben proved his challenges to be as fit as he could be paid off with a shoot in May showing off his six-pack.

Ben Shephard
Ben has been keeping fans updated with his 50th birthday celebrations(Image: Instagram/Ben Shephard)

Recreating his Men’s Health cover from 13 years ago, the TV presenter revealed his toned body, saying: “To get stronger, physically and mentally, is definitely harder the older you get. In my forties, I was still on the attack. In my fifties, I’m on the defensive.

“It’s all about how I prolong things now – not going out and smashing it left, right and centre.

“Proving to yourself you have the discipline to do something, proving you can be accountable to yourself is incredibly seductive and infectious. The more you get of that, the more you want it.”

Ben Shephard regularly presents ITV's This Morning alongside Cat Deeley
The star showed off his muscles after vowing to be at his fittest at 50(Image: Getty)

Ben went on to explain that he appreciates his body now more than his 2012 photoshoot, and would “love” to recreate it again when he turns 60.

He told Men’s Health : “I think I value the condition I’m in now more than in 2012. I’ve got more lean muscle, that’s for sure.

“There are parts of my body that are bigger. I think my body fat is a little bit higher than it was then. Back then it was probably single figures and I think I’m about 10.5% to 10.8% now – which is extraordinary when you think I’m 13 years older.”

This Morning airs weekdays from 10am on ITV1.

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