GMTV - ITV Plc Ownership

ITV Plc Ownership

ITV plc attempted to buy out Disney's stake in GMTV following it gaining 75% control, in order to secure 24-hours control of Channel 3 in England and Wales, eventually paying £18m for the remaining 25% on 26 November 2009.

As a result, many changes were made shortly after:

• The editor of GMTV, Martin Frizell, was sacked in December 2009 with Sue Walton temporarily replacing him
• On 4 March 2010, it was announced that presenter and newsreader Penny Smith was leaving GMTV with presenter John Stapleton being redeployed as special correspondent Smith presented her final broadcast on 4 June 2010.
• Also announced on 4 March 2010 was political correspondent Gloria De Piero's decision to quit GMTV in February 2010 to stand as a Labour Party Parliamentary candidate
• On 6 March 2010 GMTV Kids presenters Jamie Rickers and Anna Williamson were made redundant they appeared for the last time on the show in May 2010, meaning no presenter links between programmes in the Toonattik strand
• On 19 April 2010, it was announced BBC presenter Adrian Chiles was quitting his roles with the corporation, to join ITV plc on a six year contract, co-presenting on GMTV and casting doubt over the futures of incumbent male hosts Andrew Castle and Ben Shephard
• On 21 April 2010, it was confirmed that Ben Shephard was leaving GMTV after 10 years, after earlier telling management he would not be renewing his contract.
• On 7 May 2010, it was announced that former The One Show editor Ian Rumsey would take editorial control of the show from June 2010, with Paul Connolly as his deputy, taking over Sue Walton's temporary placement, as she moved to tackling GMTV with Lorraine's move to a new standalone show
• On 10 June 2010, it was confirmed that Andrew Castle would leave GMTV after 10 years
• On 10 June 2010 ITV plc announced that they would be dropping the GMTV brand name from the breakfast franchise in favour of a relaunched format later in 2010
• On 20 June 2010, ITV plc announced that Christine Bleakley would join Adrian Chiles as lead female host, after signing an exclusive three year deal to present on the breakfast slot, and other prime-time entertainment shows. The pair had worked together on the BBC's The One Show
• On 9 July 2010 it was confirmed that the new ITV plc breakfast show name from 6 September 2010 would be named Daybreak and that GMTV with Lorraine is set to become a standalone show with the title Lorraine and GMTV Limited was being rebranded ITV Breakfast Limited
• On 20 July 2010 it was confirmed that Kate Garraway would move from a presenting position on GMTV to the role of entertainment editor on Daybreak. Other members of the team moving over from GMTV were confirmed as John Stapleton continuing in the role of special correspondent, Dan Lobb as Sports editor, Dr. Hilary Jones becoming health editor and Richard Gaisford continuing in the role of Chief Correspondent
• On 20 July 2010 Richard Arnold and Carla Romano, after 10 years with the company, announced that they would be leaving the show to pursue their careers elsewhere
• On 1 August 2010 Emma Crosby confirmed that she would not be part of the new show
• GMTV with Lorraine aired for the last time with Myleene Klass presenting on 2 September 2010, whilst GMTV came to an end with Andrew Castle and Emma Crosby presenting on 3 September 2010.