ITV Schedule Shake-up: Why Lorraine and Loose Women Are Off Air Trend Summary

TL;DR

• Lorraine and Loose Women have been removed from the daily ITV1 schedule for a multi-week period.
• The hiatus is due to ITV's commitment to broadcasting live sporting events during daytime hours.
• Regular programming is being replaced by extended pre-match analysis and live match coverage.
• The shows are confirmed to return once the sporting tournament concludes later this month.

What Happened

Broadcaster ITV confirmed a major shake-up to its daytime schedule on Friday, March 6, 2026, announcing that Lorraine Kelly’s morning program and the afternoon panel show Loose Women would be suspended. The change took effect immediately following the final broadcasts of the previous week, leaving the 9:00 AM and 12:30 PM slots vacant for alternative content. This decision was made to accommodate the 2026 Cheltenham Festival and international football fixtures, which require lengthy broadcast windows on the main ITV1 channel. Consequently, the usual rotation of lifestyle news, celebrity interviews, and topical debates has been paused to ensure uninterrupted coverage of these live events.

Key Developments

Official confirmations were delivered by the presenters themselves during their final live airings. Lorraine Kelly informed viewers that her team would be taking a break to allow for the sporting calendar to take precedence. Similarly, the stars of Loose Women, including Kaye Adams and Nadia Sawalha, used their Friday sign-off to tell fans they would be "missing" for a duration of approximately three to four weeks. ITV's updated TV guide now reflects these changes, showing that This Morning will also see occasional timing adjustments, though it remains on the air in a truncated format on specific match days. The broadcaster has moved some auxiliary content to ITVX, but the flagship live broadcasts for Lorraine and Loose Women are completely halted.

Why This Matters

This schedule shift is factually significant as it disrupts the consistent viewing habits of millions of daily ITV viewers who tune in for morning current affairs and lunchtime discussions. From a commercial standpoint, the move demonstrates the high priority ITV places on live sports rights, which often command higher advertising premiums and larger concurrent audiences than standard daytime talk shows. For the production teams involved, this marks one of the longest unscheduled breaks outside of the traditional summer or festive holiday periods. The displacement also affects the promotional cycles for authors, actors, and musicians who typically use these platforms for media appearances.

What Happens Next

Lorraine and Loose Women are scheduled to remain off the air through the remainder of mid-March. The talk shows are currently slated to resume their normal broadcast positions on Monday, March 30, 2026, following the conclusion of the major sporting events. Viewers can check the ITVX app for clips and best-of compilations in the interim, while live updates regarding the exact return time will be posted on the shows' official social media accounts as the date approaches.

FAQ

Why is Lorraine not on TV today?

Lorraine has been temporarily removed from the ITV1 schedule to provide airtime for live sports coverage, including horse racing and football. The program was pulled starting March 9, 2026, as part of a planned network shake-up.

When will Loose Women return to ITV?

Loose Women is expected to return to its usual 12:30 PM time slot on March 30, 2026. The show is taking a multi-week break while the broadcaster prioritizes live tournament broadcasts.

Is This Morning still airing during the schedule change?

Yes, This Morning continues to air, although its broadcast length and start times may vary depending on the specific sporting schedule for that day. It remains the only major daytime show not fully suspended during this period.

How long is the ITV daytime schedule shake-up expected to last?

The current programming changes are expected to last for approximately three weeks. Normal scheduling for both Lorraine and Loose Women is set to resume by the end of March 2026.

Where can I watch Lorraine while the show is off the air?

While new live episodes are not being produced, viewers can access previous episodes and highlight segments on the ITVX streaming platform. There are no alternative live channels broadcasting the show during this hiatus.