Good Morning Britain star quits after 25 years as ITV viewers left ‘gutted’

Good Morning Britain star Richard Gaisford has announced he’s stepping down from the ITV programme after having had the “best job in TV news” for the last 25 years

A Good Morning Britain veteran is leaving the show.

ITV correspondent Richard Gaisford has stepped down from the hit morning programme after more than 25 years on ITV breakfast shows. The broadcaster has been on GMB since its launch in 2014.

In a statement, he said: “I have been privileged to have the best job in TV news for the last quarter of a century, trusted to take a front row seat at history making events all over the world. I have worked with an incredible team of journalists and camera operators, broadcasting to a highly responsive breakfast audience.

“I’m really excited about moving on to new opportunities in a fast-changing media world, starting another chapter in my career.”

Gaisford was inundated with messages of support from GMB viewers following the announcement. One wrote: “What an era Richard? GMB will certainly not be the same without you. That is for sure.

“The consummate professional. Grateful for your advice and support across the years. Good luck in whatever ventures lie ahead. Whatever they are, I know, they will be a resounding success.”

Another commented: “Delighted and gutted in equal measure. The very best of luck in the next chapter.” A third echoed: “You’ve been brilliant at Good Morning Britain! We can’t wait to watch you on your next exciting chapter!”

ITV’s director of news and current affairs Andrew Dagnell said: “Richard is one of the most accomplished and respected journalists in British broadcasting.

“His work has helped define what audiences expect from breakfast news – authoritative, human and trusted. Few reporters have covered such a breadth of stories with the same composure and clarity that Richard brings to every assignment.

“He leaves with the gratitude and admiration of colleagues across ITV News, and I look forward to working with Richard on some exciting current affairs in the future.”

Gaisford will stay at ITV, continuing his work on current affairs programming. The TV star joined GMTV in 2000, becoming chief correspondent for the programme.

He went on to join GMTV’s successor Daybreak in 2010 and remained chief correspondent for Good Morning Britain when it launched in 2014.

Gaisford was the first UK broadcast journalist to report live from Basra, Iraq, in 2003. He has cover major global events, including the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, Nelson Mandela’s death in South Africa, the fall of Robert Mugabe in Zimbabwe, and the rescue of the Chilean miners in the Atacama Desert.

Gaisford has spent the past few years reporting live from Ukraine during the ongoing war with Russia.

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