Lorraine Kelly to be honoured with BAFTA to mark 40 years of broadcasting

On today’s Lorraine, Susanna Reid interrupted the show to surprise Lorraine Kelly and make a huge announcement to celebrate the presenter’s 40 years in broadcasting.

Susanna shocked Lorraine by appearing through opening doors and said, “Good morning Lorraine, this has come as an enormous surprise… I have a very special announcement for you, Lorraine Kelly. It doesn’t get much bigger or more deserved than this. I am here for a very special reason this morning.

“I’m frightened”, Lorraine joked.

Susanna continued, “BAFTA will be celebrating your 40 years in broadcasting. Your programme is nominated in the daytime category, but I have something unique and special to you. This is the first time something like this has been announced on air. This is the special gold envelope.”

She added, “On behalf of the BAFTA board of trustees, we are delighted to offer you Lorraine Kelly the Academy Special award to be presented at this year’s BAFTA Television Awards.

Lorraine laughed and said, “Where’s Ant and Dec? It can’t be a prank because it’s Susanna!”

On 40 years in broadcasting, Lorraine recalled, “It’s crazy. I joined TVAM in 1984. I was a baby, I got my chance in breakfast television because they were willing to take a risk on someone who was told I’d never make it to TV because of the way I speak.”

“The boss of TVAM was Australian and heard a Scottish accent and it was one of those things where it was like ‘Give her a go.’

Susanna said, “You’re an inspiration to me and women in broadcasting.”

Lorraine began her breakfast broadcasting career with Good Morning Britain from TV-am, as a reporter having joined the breakfast station from the BBC in Scotland.

She would go on to become one of the main faces of Good Morning Britain as well as GMTV, Daybreak and her own shows including Top of the Morning, GMTV with Lorraine, LK Live and LK Today. Her series is now simply titled, Lorraine.

Lorraine weekdays from 9am on ITV1 and ITVX