'Good Morning Britain' cancelled between Christmas and New Year over COVID fears

Katie Archer
·Contributor
·2 min read
From ITV Daytime GOOD MORNING BRITAIN Weekdays ITV Pictured: Good Morning Britain presenters Charlotte Hawkins, ben Shephard, Susanna Reid, Kate Garraway and Ranvir Singh (C) ITV Photographer Nicky Johnston For further information please contact Peter Gray peter.gray@itv.com This photograph is © ITV and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme GOOD MORNING BRITAIN or ITV. Once made available by the ITV Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the Transmission date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on the website https://www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
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Good Morning Britain has axed its scheduled shows between Christmas and New Year to try to keep its cast and crew safe from COVID.

The ITV breakfast news show had been due to air as usual in the days between Christmas and New Year, but the programme's team has now been given "an extended break" for the festive season by cancelling the Wednesday 29 to Friday 31 episodes.

Read more: Piers Morgan says new meds are finally cracking his long COVID

As the Omicron variant of coronavirus spreads throughout the UK, GMB's bosses have decided that taking the show off air will help to keep the team safe from illness.

Richard Madeley has co-presented with Susanna Reid many times this year. (ITV)
Richard Madeley has co-presented with Susanna Reid many times this year. (ITV)

A spokesperson said: "GMB was due to be on air from Wednesday 29th - Friday 31st December 2021 but due to the pandemic and to protect our teams, we have decided to give them an extended break. GMB will not broadcast next week, but will be back on air on Tuesday 4th January 2022."

It was due to air its last episode on Christmas Day, before taking a break over the bank holiday days for Christmas and should have been returning on 29 December.

No plans have been announced yet for what will replace it in the ITV schedules.

The news comes as one of its stars, Sean Fletcher, shared that he had tested positive for COVID and would have to isolate over Christmas.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Sean Fletcher (@seanfletchertv)

He wrote on Instagram on Sunday: "Had quite a morning. A positive Lateral Flow Test backed up by a positive PCR test. Went downstairs for breakfast and cut my finger with a bread knife. Couldn’t stop it bleeding.

"Patched myself up in time for an appearance on #SundayMorningLive via zoom with #AdrianChiles covering for me, alongside @jacquijosephdesigns, on a programme that also featured my previous co-presenters @sallysmack @nina.wadia and @revkatebottley, as well as @raetheduke @thekingdomchoir @henry.bonsu @drnighatarif among others."

Read more: GMB weatherman Alex Beresford in bed with COVID

One of GMB's regular presenters is Kate Garraway, who has spoken extensively about how COVID has affected her family.

Her husband Derek Draper is the UK's worst-affected living person who has had coronavirus and spent 13 months in hospital, still needing round-the-clock care now that he is back at home.

Watch: Dominic Raab accuses GMB of 'ranting at politicians'