Lorraine Kelly has responded to the social media frenzy that erupted last year in response to her taking more Fridays off from hosting her self-titled ITV show.

Lorraine hosting her show with her hands over her mouth

Lorraine Kelly explained why she sometimes misses her self-named show (Image: ITV)TV host and author Lorraine Kelly has responded to critics monitoring her frequency of hosting her self-named ITV show as she shared the reason behind taking time off. The 65 year old Scottish star recognises that the social media commentary about her work schedule “just started off as a wee joke”, but she now considers the constant online scrutiny “really sad” after dedicating over four decades to her career.

Since 2010, Lorraine has been the face of her titular programme on ITV, which is broadcasted after Good Morning Britain on weekdays. Despite the show’s name, presenters Christine Lampard or Ranvir Singh often fill in for Lorraine during her days off. The new grandmother, who published her debut novel last year, typically hosts four shows a week and takes Fridays off.

Lorraine has revealed her true feelings about viewers tracking how often she hosts her eponymous show

Lorraine has revealed her true feelings about viewers tracking how often she hosts her eponymous show (Image: ITV)

The peculiarity of seeing a show named Lorraine presented by others amused some viewers online in 2023, leading to the creation of a Twitter (X) account tracking how often Lorraine hosts the daytime TV show.

The account, Where is Lorraine? (@lorrainekwatch), emerged on Twitter (X) in February 2023 and identifies itself as the “self-appointed attendance officer of daytime TV. Satire account tracking Lorraine Kelly’s attendance,” reports the Mirror.

Last year, the account disclosed that Lorraine had only hosted 59.7% of the episodes of the show bearing her name.

“It’s really hurtful actually. It really is. I’ve not spoken about it before. I’m a grafter and I work really hard and I’ve had to take Fridays off for the past year. I just thought it was weird to care so much,” Lorraine revealed in a fresh interview when probed about the Twitter account scrutinising her.

The beloved presenter, who has been on air for 67.5% of this year’s shows, opened up to The Guardian about her decision to cut back her TV appearances. “Initially, it was for my mum who has been ill. And it sort of brings you into line with everyone else because if you look at This Morning, everybody else does four days,” she reflected.

Women of the Year Awards 2024

Lorraine shared why she often misses shows (Image: Getty)“And as I’m getting older, I want to do other things, more writing, all of that. Mate, I’ve been doing this for 40 years, working my a**e off.”

When questioned about the flak she receives because her show bears her name, the BAFTA-winning television personality responds: “I get that. I get that 100% because This Morning is just called This Morning and GMB is just GMB. Maybe it just started off as a wee joke, but it’s the way that everyone piles on. It starts off as a wee tiny thing and it gets bigger and bigger. I find it really sad.”

In January this year, the creator of the @lorrainekwatch Twitter account pledged to keep an eye on Lorraine’s ITV showings. In conversation with Metro, the faceless tweeter confessed: “The concept tires quite quickly. I don’t know how much life is left in it but I’ll continue for now. X can be a horrible place so if I can bring something that’s a bit of fun that can make people laugh then why not?”.

Despite the humour, he emphasised a willingness to deactivate the account should Lorraine express such a desire. Lorraine herself has seemed to take the situation lightly, hinting at amusement over the saga while talking to BBC Radio 4’s Woman’s Hour, where she remarked: “The amount of space I occupy in people’s heads is quite bizarre.”

Laughing it off, she added: “It’s hilarious, it’s fine, I don’t mind, I don’t care, I probably would have cared before but I really don’t now, it’s absolutely fine. To be honest, you should never comment on things like that if you don’t know what is going on in people’s lives, but I am having to take quite a few Fridays off because my mum really isn’t well.”