Lorraine 'overwhelmed' with celebration of her 30 years on breakfast TV

Lorraine Kelly has been surprised by show colleagues past and present in a celebration to mark the 30th anniversary of her breakfast TV debut.

Familiar faces from yesteryear included Timmy Mallett, Wincey Willis and Anthea Turner, while current co-star Ben Shephard got into the spirit by sporting a kilt in honour of the Scottish broadcaster during today's edition of her ITV show.

Lorraine clocked up her first breakfast appearance in 1984 as the Scotland reporter for TV-am, eventually going on to work on its successor GMTV and later having her own spin-off slot called Lorraine.

Her daughter, Rose, was among the surprise guests and joked about some of her mum's fashion failures.

Eamonn Holmes, who has gone on to work on Sky News's rival Sunrise programme, sent a message recalling one of their early reviews when they launched GMTV.

He said: "We thought we were brilliant, we thought we were really good, then there was a review in a posh newspaper, and it just said, 'this programme is presented by two unknown big round faces'. But what they say is very well and good, but there are no wrinkles on a balloon."

Lorraine was also introduced to a penguin chick which has been named in her honour in a live link to London Zoo, with the presenter declaring: "That is fabulous, it is the nicest thing that has ever happened to me."

Others who sent messages included presenting duo Ant and Dec, Martin Clunes, Hugh Bonneville and Paul O'Grady.

Lorraine said afterwards: "It's been overwhelming and amazing. I can't believe it's been 30 years, it's gone by in a flash."

She also features in tonight's edition of Coronation Street. Kylie (Paula Lane) and David Platt (Jack P Shepherd) are seen watching her on TV and then briefly discuss her.

 

Patrick McLennan

Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix. 


An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.