EXCLUSIVE: GMB star announces exit as emotional Kate Garraway says ‘can’t believe it’
Kate Garraway Leads Emotional Farewell as Good Morning Britain Stylist Leaves After 27 Years
Kate Garraway has paid a heartfelt tribute to long-serving ITV stylist Debbie Harper after she announced her departure from Good Morning Britain, bringing an end to a remarkable 27-year career behind the scenes.
Harper, widely known as Debbie Dresses, has spent nearly three decades working across some of ITV’s biggest daytime programmes, including GMTV, Daybreak, Lorraine and Good Morning Britain.
Her exit was confirmed on Tuesday, September 1, with colleagues quickly sharing emotional messages about the woman who has helped shape the on-screen look of presenters for years.
Debbie marked the moment herself with a lengthy Instagram post reflecting on what she described as “27 incredible years” at ITV.
“Today marks the end of 27 incredible years at @gmb … and Daybreak/GMTV/Lorraine,” she wrote.
“What an absolute ride it’s been. 27 years of early mornings, a fair amount of chaos, and so much silliness in the wardrobe & makeup department.”
‘It Simply Will NOT Be The Same’
Debbie went on to thank the colleagues who had become a major part of her working life, including Richard Arnold, Laura Tobin, Piers Morgan, Ranvir Singh, Charlotte Hawkins, Dr Hilary Jones, Ed Balls, Kate Garraway and Susanna Reid.
She described the departure as “the end of an era” and admitted that saying goodbye to a workplace and team that had been part of her life for 27 years was “incredibly emotional.”
She ended the message with a lighter note: “And now… it’s finally time for a lie in. X.”
Kate Garraway was among the first to respond, sharing a particularly personal message about how far back their working relationship goes.
“I can’t believe it @debbiedresses – it truly is the end of an era,” Kate wrote.
She recalled Debbie joining GMTV not long after Kate herself started there in 2000, describing the stylist as “a breath of fresh air” who arrived with mood boards and ideas for the presenters.
“You have always only wanted one thing for us all to look our best on air and you have done so much to celebrate and guide us all,” Kate added.
“It simply will NOT be the same without you.”
Colleagues Rally Around Debbie
Other familiar ITV faces also joined the farewell.
Ranvir Singh said she “cannot believe” Debbie is leaving and added that it would feel “very strange” without her after having her there throughout Ranvir’s own time on the programme.
Entertainment correspondent Richard Arnold kept his tribute playful, joking: “Can I wear culottes or a palazzo pant now? I love you.”
Debbie’s final day was also acknowledged live on Good Morning Britain by Ed Balls and Susanna Reid.
Susanna thanked her for years of work and joked that presenters had been dressed by Debbie “for 100 years.”
“So goodness only knows what we’ll be wearing tomorrow morning,” she said.
“Thank you so much Debbie, we love you.”
Ed focused less on the clothes and more on the atmosphere Debbie created behind the scenes.
“The thing she does is she creates an environment in our green room when we arrive in the morning,” he said. “She’s so supportive and warm.”
He added that she would be greatly missed.
Susanna agreed, saying: “We are going to miss her.”
She also acknowledged the challenge of replacing someone who has been part of the programme for so long, adding that Debbie would be “a tough act to follow” while expressing confidence in Polly, who will step into the role.
For Debbie, the departure closes a chapter built on years of early starts, wardrobe decisions, television launches and friendships formed behind the cameras.
And judging by the reaction from the presenters she dressed for so many years, her influence on Good Morning Britain went far beyond what viewers ever saw on screen.
