'Thank you for sticking with me': Lorraine Kelly addresses fans as show absent from the daytime schedule

ITV has been going through a time of significant change in recent months, with drastic cuts made to the daytime TV schedule.

These have seen fan-favourite show Lorraine have its airtime halved. As well as Lorraine now only having a running time of 30 minutes, the show joins Loose Women in now only airing for just 30 weeks of the year.

This had led to a debate surrounding whether daytime TV is doomed. Viewers are now even more concerned about these two stalwarts of the TV schedule as they're both missing completely from the daily line up at the moment.

While the Loose Women ladies briefly alluded to the show taking a hiatus during a recent episode of the series, Lorraine Kelly has now addressed fans on social media to speak in more depth about her absence from our screens.

Lorraine has already been absent from her show recently due to health issues, and will now be on an extended hiatus along with the Loose Women ladies.

Addressing viewers through Instagram, Lorraine shared a video thanking fans for their well wishes as she recovered from a "bad lurgy."

She continues, "I will be off for a good few weeks, not because I'm not well, but because of course there's been changes to the show, and we now do 30 weeks a year."

Suggesting she wouldn't see those tuning in "for a wee while," Lorraine thanked fans for their ongoing support.

"I want to thank you for sticking with me through all the changes, and I hope to see you when I'm back on air. I never take it for granted, and I really, really appreciate you tuning in."

She concludes with a simple, "Thanks so, so much."

It was Kaye Adams who first announced Loose Women would be taking a temporary hiatus, during the episode of the show that aired on Friday, March 6.

Jane Moore interrupted conversation on the show as she initially appeared to become tearful, dabbing at her eyes. However, she quickly revealed this was due to hay fever symptoms and not because she was upset.

Kaye then moved in to say, "I thought you were getting a bit tearful! There is a reason to get tearful, it's your last Loose Women for a few weeks."

She continued, "We will be back next month. Until then, take care, have a fabulous weekend and Easter, and we'll see you very soon."

From Tuesday, March 10, this change to the schedule is to make room for ITV's Cheltenham Festival coverage, which will take Loose Women's weekday slot for the remainder of the week.

When the Cheltenham Festival coverage finishes at the end of the week, both shows will remain off air, likely to reflect the fact they both only run for 30 weeks of the year, as pointed out by Lorraine.

With Lorraine off air, Good Morning Britain is set to run for a further 30 minutes, finishing at 10am.

Although no firm date has been given for both shows to return, it is known they will remain absent for a number of weeks.