This Morning (TV series)

Infobox Television
show_name = This Morning


country = United Kingdom
caption =
format = Daytime entertainment
picture_format =
runtime = 2 hours
creator =
presenter = Phillip Schofield,
Fern Britton,
(Monday-Thursday)
Ruth Langsford,
Eamonn Holmes
(Friday)
producer = Anya Francis, 2007,
Helen Dawson, 2008
channel = ITV
first_aired = October 3 1988
last_aired = present
location = The London Studios
num_series =
num_episodes =
producer = Granada Television
ITV Productions
related =
imdb_id =

"This Morning" is a British daytime television programme created by Granada Television and broadcast on ITV. It first aired from Granada's Albert Dock Studios in Liverpool on 3 October, 1988. It features celebrity guests, entertainment, advice on health and wellbeing, competitions, cookery and more. On Monday 1 September 2008, the 21st series started live on ITV. The programme's main presenters are Fern Britton and Phillip Schofield with Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes being deputy presenters.

History

From October 1988 to July 2001, "This Morning" was presented by husband and wife team Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. At this time the show was very popular attracting around two million viewers daily. From time to time, during their own family holidays, they would be replaced for short stints by guest presenters such as Stephen Rhodes and Alison Keenan. Originally the show was broadcast from Liverpool; in the late 1990s, it was relocated to LWT's Riverside Television Centre (Now the London studios) in London, with Madeley and Finnigan claiming it was to secure even more celebrity guests for the show. From 1998 onwards, Richard and Judy hosted only the Monday to Thursday editions, with regular guest presenters hosting on Fridays: during the tenth series Caron Keating and Ross Kelly presided, and from series 11 in 1999 Fern Britton and John Leslie were regular presenters of Friday's show. When Richard and Judy departed the series in 2001, they were replaced by Coleen Nolan and Twiggy, with Britton & Leslie remaining on Fridays. However, when Nolan and Twiggy proved less popular with viewers, Britton and Leslie took on the full job of presenting the show and brought the ratings back up to around one million. In 2002, after certain allegations were made in the press about his private life, Leslie was dismissed.

John Leslie was replaced by Phillip Schofield, developing an on-screen relationship with Fern Britton that was characterised by good humour and giggling.
Lorraine Kelly joined the team in 2003, to co-present with Phillip Schofield on a Monday and a Friday. This was to enable Fern Britton to spend more time with her family. Lorraine left "This Morning" in March, 2006 to concentrate on her GMTV programme (LK Today), as well as to spend more time at home. Phillip and Fern now present the show from Monday to Thursday, while Ruth Langsford and Eamonn Holmes take over the show on Fridays. The husband and wife duo also present the show during summer periods (since 2006) whilst main presenters Phillip and Fern take a break.

Awards

*"TV Quick Award" for Best Daytime Viewing (2003/2004).
*"National Television Award" for Most Popular Daytime Show (1999/2000/2004).

Presenters

Current Presenters

*Fern Britton, Monday-Thursday (1999-)
*Phillip Schofield, Monday-Thursday (2002-)
*Ruth Langsford, Friday (2006-)
*Eamonn Holmes, Friday (2006-)

Former Presenters

*Richard Madeley (1988-2001)
*Judy Finnigan (1988-2001)
*Coleen Nolan (2001)
*Twiggy (2001)
*John Leslie (1999-2002)
*Lorraine Kelly (2003-2005)

Guest Presenters

*Julie Peasgood (1998)
*Jerry Springer (1999)
*Brian McFadden (2001)
*Melinda Messenger (2003)
*Christine Hamilton (2003)
*Cat Deeley (2003)
*Penny Smith (2004)
*John Suchet (2004)
*Angus Scott (2005)
*Richard Bacon (Summer 2005)
*Kate Garraway (2005)
*Gloria Hunniford (2004 & 2005)
*Ben Shephard (2005)
*Denise van Outen (Summer 2005)
*Tim Vincent (2005)
*Richard Hammond (June 2005)
*Sarah Greene (June 2005)
*John Barrowman (April 2006 & April-May 2008)
*Michael Ball (June 2007)
*Bradley Walsh (December 2007)
*Julian Clary (January 2008)

Experts and correspondents

*Agony aunt - Denise Robertson MBE
*Health expert - Dr Chris Steele MBE
*Chef - Phil Vickery
*Chef - Angela Hartnett
*Fashion experts - Wendy Elsmore, John Scott and Helen Boyle
*Fitness expert - Julie Dawn Cole
*Beauty expert - Nadine Baggott
*Gardening expert - David Domoney
*Hair stylists - Charles Worthington and Mathew Soobroy
*Psychologist - Anjula Mutanda
*Resident vet - Scott Miller
*Royal correspondents - Dickie Arbiter, Camilla Tominey and James Whitaker
*Showbiz reporter - Alison Hammond
*Showbiz and TV reporter - Paul Ross and Sam Mann
*Soap opera expert - Sharon Marshall
*Travel reporter - Steve Wilson

Filming

From 1988 to 1996 the show was broadcast from the Albert Dock in Liverpool. Shoppers and tourists were able to peer through the large window directly behind the presenters. Security guards, though, prevented prolonged exhibitionism. Fred Talbot presented the weather from a large floating UK map on the Dock (which was famously invaded by a streaker during a live broadcast). The programme moved to London in September 1996 where it would be easier to attract more celebrity guests. This was the same time presenters Richard and Judy moved their home to London. This Morning now broadcasts from Studio 8 at The London Studios on the South Bank which features large picture windows looking out over the River Thames. The windows that are seen on screen are real, to the disbelief of many American guests who expect it to be a projection. The windows do however have a silver coating on the outside to prevent people seeing in and also to prevent glare from the sun.

Helping Hand episode

One of the show's most shocking and well-remembered broadcasts was back during the time when Richard and Judy presented the show. A phone-in session was being held regarding domestic abuse, with viewers being asked to call in and talk about past experiences with violent partners. However, a woman phoned in and was put through live on air, only to announce to a stunned studio that she was in a violent relationship and her husband had locked her in the house. She described the violent acts of her partner on air to millions of viewers, and made a plea for help. As a result, the show's agony aunt Denise Robertson MBE asked for the caller's address, and said "We will come and get you". This led to the successful liberation of the abused woman.

External links

*itv.com|id=thismorning|title="This Morning"
* [http://www.imdb.co.uk/title/tt0181261/ This Morning] at the Internet Movie Database