GMTV 1993-2010

So GMTV has aired its last cosy morning breakfast show after 17 years. The end of GMTV was more of a pop than a bang, with the old theme tune playing and the lights going out. So let’s not ponder on the end, lets go back to 1992 and the beginning… In December 1992 ITV began screening trailers for the all-new GMTV – which promised to be very different from TV-am a long running brand it was to replace on January 1st 1993.

TV-am was seen to be a bit old fashioned and frumpy. GMTV was to be modern and trendy. Programme names, which must have taken a creative body months to come up with, such as Top of the Morning replaced much loved favourites like After Nine.

Also replaced were the majority of ITV breakfast faces. Out went Mike Morris and Jimmy Greaves, it was goodbye to ‘Mad’ Lizzie Web and Rusty Lee. It was hello to… well these faces…

GMTV launched on January 1st 1993. It was a disaster. Viewers switched off in their droves and after three months the producers threw away the trendy, ditched the modern and gave viewers what they wanted – TV-am in all but name.

Let’s hope Daybreak have more success at something different… although the cocky attitude ITV have shown towards the demise of GMTV is something some viewers will find distasteful – and may not forget.