Lorraine Kelly’s HORRIFIC 1994 ORDEAL with her Baby – What Really Happened?

Lorraine Kelly has opened up about a ‘really frightening’ time in her career which saw her replaced on a major ITV daytime show.

The presenter revealed she was once told she would be replaced as host of primetime breakfast magazine show GMTV – after giving birth to her daughter.

The Scottish TV personality, 65, currently off from her ITV show Lorraine as she recovers from preventative keyhole surgery, opened up about the frightening moment on a recent episode of TV doctor Dr Hilary Jones‘ podcast.

She explained on The Dr Hilary Show, recorded before her admission to hospital, that after her daughter Rosie was born in June 1994, she was due to return to work in September, the Mirror reports.

But just before the end of August, she received a phone call saying, ‘”We’re really sorry, we’re not renewing your contract, we’ve got someone else”‘ – which was Eammon Holmes and Anthea Turner.

Lorraine continued: ‘I thought, “Oh my God, what am I going to do?” I had a massive mortgage, a tiny baby and Steve [her husband] was working all hours.

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Lorraine Kelly has opened up about a ‘really frightening’ time in her career which saw her replaced on major ITV daytime show (pictured in April)

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The presenter (pictured hosting GMTV in 1993) revealed she was once told she would be replaced as host of primetime breakfast magazine show GMTV – after giving birth to her daughter

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Lorraine said on The Dr Hilary Show, that after her daughter Rosie was born in June 1994, she was told her contract was not being renewed

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‘It was scary. It was really frightening. Anyone who loses a job knows how scary that is, especially when you’re freelance.’

The presenter, often known as the ‘queen’ of breakfast TV, also spoke about the instability of not having maternity leave: ‘We didn’t have that if you’re freelance – you just go back to work.’

But Lorraine did not give up on her presenting career – and begun trying to find another broadcasting job, with a VHS tape of her on-screen highlights in hand.

Eventually, though, GMTV – Good Morning TV, which ran from 1993 to 2010, as the predecessor to ITV Breakfast – got back in contact with her.

She returned to present a mother and baby slot in the November, instead of returning to her old job in the September as planned – and this kick-started the rest of her highly successful broadcasting career.

The host had various iterations of other self-titled morning shows before landing on the current format Lorraine, which launched in July 2010.

Fans have spoken out in support of Lorraine since she revealed last Saturday she was taking a break from hosting her programme to undergo surgery to remove her fallopian tubes and ovaries.

In a video from her hospital bed, the veteran presenter reassured fans she was being well looked after and the keyhole surgery was ‘purely preventative’, after she had been unwell for some time.

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Lorraine was told she was set to be replaced by Eamonn Holmes and Anthea Turner (pictured as GMTV presenters in 1995)

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Lorraine has recently been in hospital after undergoing surgery to remove her fallopian tubes and ovaries but is recovering well

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The host had various iterations of other self-titled morning shows before landing on the current format Lorraine (pictured, an episode from last month), which launched in July 2010

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She added: ‘I’m going to be totally fine and I’ll see you soon.’

While Lorraine recovers, This Morning presenter Sian Welby has stepped in to present the daytime show.

Sian, standing in on the sofa, sent Lorraine her well wishes: ‘Before we get started, obviously we want to wish Lorraine a speedy recovery.

‘You might have seen her post over the weekend. She’s been in hospital for an operation; I know she’s planning to be back here as soon as she can.’

It comes as Lorraine shared an update with her social media followers about her recovery, along with exciting news about her programme, on Wednesday.

She said: ‘Thanx for all your lovely messages I’m recovering well. So proud of my top team – punching above our weight and bucking the trend.

‘Just heard our ratings are up – we had the highest March for four years. Thanks @vixkennedy and the gang! Always know how to cheer me up [love heart].’

The encouraging message comes after she confirmed last Sunday she was back home and recuperating as she heaped praise on the hospital staff and her surgeon for being so ‘kind’ and ‘caring’.

It comes as Lorraine shared an update (pictured) with her social media followers about her recovery , along with exciting news about her programme, on Wednesday

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Last Sunday, the host shared a snap (pictured) of herself in a wheelchair, surrounded by healthcare professionals, who she praised in the caption

The TV star gushed in the caption (pictured): ‘Huge thanks to these kind, caring, gorgeous professionals who took care of me’

The host shared a snap of herself surrounded by healthcare professionals, sitting in a wheelchair and wearing a T-shirt paying tribute to her late friend Dame Deborah James, who passed away in 2022 from bowel cancer.

The TV star gushed in the caption: ‘Huge thanks to these kind, caring, gorgeous professionals who took care of me at @heatherwoodhospital – back home now and following doctors orders to rest up.

‘My surgeon Mr Ahmed Rafaat has been so reassuring throughout – and I can’t thank the whole team enough!’

Lorraine was soon flooded with well wishes from her fans and famous friends, with Emma Willis writing: ‘Lots of love Lorraine’ and Christine Lampard commenting a string of heart emojis.

Sir Chris Hoy added: ‘Get well soon, Lorraine’ while Vanessa Feltz penned: ‘Enjoy a bit of convalescence with your beautiful girls’.