Overview
This Morning is a British daytime television magazine programme broadcast on ITV in the United Kingdom and on Virgin Media One in the Republic of Ireland. It is produced as a live, weekday show that mixes news, human-interest stories, entertainment and practical features. The programme aims to combine light current affairs with lifestyle content for a broad daytime audience.
Format and segments
The programme typically runs several hours each morning and is structured around short, varied segments so viewers can join or leave without missing a single long item. Regular strands include:
- News roundups and topical discussion
- Celebrity interviews and showbiz updates
- Style, beauty and fashion advice
- Home, gardening and DIY features
- Cookery demonstrations and recipe ideas
- Health, wellbeing and consumer advice
- Real-life stories and viewer contributions
Features are often illustrated with short filmed packages, in-studio demonstrations or live remote links. The mix of light entertainment and serious items is designed to suit a wide cross-section of daytime viewers.
History and presenters
Launched in the late 20th century, the series established itself as one of the UK's best-known daytime shows. It was originally fronted by the husband-and-wife team Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan, who presented the programme for more than a decade and helped define its conversational, magazine-style tone. Over the years the presenting team has expanded and rotated to include a variety of personalities from broadcasting and entertainment.
Among those associated long-term with the programme is Ruth Langsford, who has been a regular presenter since the late 1990s. In recent schedules the programme has named pairs of lead hosts: Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby have often presented Monday to Thursday, while Fridays and bank holidays have been anchored by presenters such as Dermot O'Leary alongside others. The roster also includes guest hosts, stand-ins and specialists for particular strands such as fashion, cookery and health.
Scheduling and special arrangements
Broadcast in daytime hours, the show adapts its line-up for holidays and special periods. For example, during school holiday blocks certain stand-in teams have hosted the programme on a daily basis to cover the regular presenting roster's breaks. The live nature of the show means it also sometimes adjusts for breaking news, special events or seasonal programming.
Reception and cultural role
This Morning has been influential in shaping British daytime television, popularising the magazine format and creating a space where current affairs, lifestyle and entertainment intersect. It has launched segments and contributors who have become household names, and its interviews and features often generate wider media discussion. As with any long-running programme, it has attracted both praise for accessibility and criticism in relation to editorial choices at different times, reflecting the challenges of balancing entertainment with serious topics in a live format.
Notable facts
- The programme's format—short, varied items mixed with interviews—makes it adaptable for both regular viewers and casual audiences.
- Its live broadcasting and high profile guests mean it frequently appears in national media coverage beyond the daytime slot.
- Presenter line-ups have changed over decades, with a mix of permanent hosts, rotating pairs and guest specialists contributing to the show's continuity.