Today marks the start of a number of schedule and on-screen changes at ITV 1, as part of cost-cutting measures.
The first changes went live at 6am, with Good Morning Britain broadcasting from ITN’s building for the first time.
GMB previously occupied Studio TC3 at Television Centre in west London.
Studio 1 at ITN is noticeably smaller than the programme’s previous home at TVC.
During its time at TVC (and before that, at The London Studios), the programme had its own production team. This has now been cut and merged with the ITV News operation.
The new set is a variation on that used at TVC, though the main desk is much smaller and there’s a new soft presentation area.
The programme’s graphic design is unchanged.
Other than when wide shots of the studio are shown, the vast majority of viewers will notice little difference.
Apart from the modified/smaller set, one other on air change is that the main news presenter – this morning that was Kate Garraway – also now presents the Good Morning London bulletins.
Good Morning Britain is also on air for longer from today – until 9.30am.
Lorraine now starts at 9.30am and is reduced to 30 minutes. This Morning starts at 10am, with Loose Women following at 12.30pm.
Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women have also departed Television Centre and will be broadcast from a shared studio from today – The H Club studio in Covent Garden.
A new schedule for the soaps – Emmerdale and Coronation Street – will be marked tonight by a special crossover episode called Corriedale.
Then from tomorrow, a new soap schedule formally kicks in: 8pm – 8.30pm Emmerdale and 8.30pm – 9pm Coronation Street – Monday to Friday.
This amounts to a cut of one hour of the soaps per week: from six hours to five.
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FEATURE IMAGE:
PICTURED: Good Morning Britain studio at ITN. COPYRIGHT: ITV plc.
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