EXCLUSIVE: Good Morning Britain journalist Noel Phillips is expected to leave the breakfast show after more than four years amid sweeping redundancies across ITV‘s daytime brands.
As the UK network shifts funding to streamer-friendly series, ITV announced in May that it was laying off around half of the 450 employees who work across ITV Studios-produced GMB, Lorraine, This Morning, and Loose Women.
Phillips is among those expected to leave, though the consultation process remains ongoing. His anticipated exit has sparked concern internally about Good Morning Britain‘s on-air diversity.
As part of the changes, sources raised questions about the amount of work available to freelance newsreaders Sean Fletcher and Marverine Cole, but ITV has now guaranteed that there will be presenting opportunities for them next year. Fletcher has been part of GMB’s line-up since the show launched in 2014.
ITV’s position is that GMB is committed to on-screen diversity and that the job cuts will not result in the show becoming dominated by white presenters. The show’s lead hosts include Susanna Reid and Ed Balls.
Phillips joined GMB from Comcast-owned Sky News in February 2021, and he has been central to coverage of racial unrest in the U.S. and UK.
The Royal Television Society award-winning journalist was close to gunfire in Minneapolis when reporting on the protests that followed the fatal shooting of Daunte Wright by police officer Kim Potter.
Phillips spoke about suffering a racist attack in London in 2023, while more recently, he was hit by a rubber bullet during his reporting on the June protests in Los Angeles.
ITV is closing GMB‘s office in the U.S. as it moves the show under the control of ITN, the independent production company that makes ITV News.
From the start of next year, GMB will be produced by a dedicated team at ITV News and will be extended by 30 minutes during the weeks Lorraine is off air. GMB is expected to tap into ITV News’ resources in the U.S., where journalists such as Dan Rivers are stationed.
A source familiar with the changes said staff were “pissed off” about Phillips’ exit. Another person said there had been a mood change in TV amid the rise of populism, arguing that there is “less pressure [on ITV] to be seen to be doing the right thing” on diversity.
An ITV spokesperson said: “In 2026, Good Morning Britain will continue to have the familiar line-up of presenters that we know viewers love. ITV is fully committed to our diversity, equity, and inclusion strategy, and the representation on our shows will remain a priority.”
Deadline understands that Adil Ray will remain part of GMB’s on-air team, despite The Daily Mail reporting that he was facing the axe. Ranvir Singh will also continue to appear on the show.
Daniel Robinson was appointed as GMB’s new editor earlier this month. Having served as deputy editor for seven years, he succeeds Neil Thompson, who is moving into the role of commissioning editor, breakfast news.
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