GMB bloodbath 'IT'S BEEN DEVASTATING'

Woman's Own columnist Dawn Neesom looks into the behind-the-scenes drama that's unfolding for Susanna, Kate, Charlotte and co at ITV

- Dawn Neesom

I'ts the biggest shakeup to happen to daytime television in decades and it's coming to a screen near you very soon.

But while you'll be watching sparkly, smiling presenters beaming at you from brightly coloured, luxurious-looking sets, the reality is totally different.

Behind the scenes, ITV's cost-cutting of huge daytime hits Good Morning Britain, This Morning, Lorraine and Loose Women has been described as a bloodbath, with some of the biggest names in broadcasting reeling and terrified at where the axe will fall next. More than 200 roles are being culled in total.

Good Morning Britain will be relocating to ITN’s headquarters in an anonymous glass office building on the edge of the City of London, while This Morning, Lorraine and Loose Women will all be sharing a somewhat cramped studio in the basement of London's The H Club Studio in Covent Garden. We viewers won't notice the difference, but the stars will. There have already been complaints about the fact that health and safety regulations mean that toasters essential if you are on morning telly - are banned in the new basement locations.

A friend who has worked on ITV's daytime output for many years confessed that the atmosphere for staff at all levels was terrible, with tears and tantrums all round. Of course, in the great scheme of things not being able to use a toaster is minor but on top of everything else it's the final straw. Despite being brilliant at her job, she says that daytime TV has changed so much that it's better to be out than in.