Lorraine Kelly is set to celebrate 40 years in showbiz in 2023, and the TV star has no plans to retire just yet, despite approaching her 65th birthday
TV favourite Lorraine Kelly has opened up about not being keen on retiring, even as she marks an impressive 40 years in the limelight.
The TV star is enjoying quite a victorious streak she recently launched a new book, indulged in the delights of becoming a grandmother to little Billie, and has been honoured with a prestigious BAFTA accolade for her influential presence in the world of broadcasting.
As her 65th birthday looms at the end of November, some folk might reckon it’s time for Lorraine to slow down, but she’s having none of it. In an intimate chat with Hello! magazine, Lorraine confessed: “I’ve always said if the day comes when I think I don’t really want to go to work, I will stop.”
Yet, she’s nowhere close to calling it quits. “I’ve never felt that and I don’t think I ever will, because every day is different.” Lorraine cherished every bit of 2023, with the birth of her grandson Billie bringing her heaps of happiness.
Lorraine Kelly has addressed the retirement rumours (Image: ITV)
Since 2010, Lorraine’s been waking us up with a smile on Lorraine, her namesake ITV show, after years of brightening mornings on GMTV. This month, she was showered with loving shout-outs thanks to the heartwarming documentary ‘Lorraine Kelly: 40 Unforgettable Years’, which let viewers peek behind the curtain of her illustrious career and personal world.
TV heavyweights including Good Morning Britain’s Susanna Reid and former colleague Piers Morgan have showered EastEnders ‘ Lorraine Stanley with praise. Piers perfectly summed up her character: “Lorraine is an iron first in a velvet glove. She creates a persona that people think is very benign, very nice, very smiley but underneath it is a proper journalist.”
Susanna Reid commended Lorraine as “a trailblazer for women” during a special programme dedicated to her, while This Morning’s Alison Hammond added: “She definitely has paved the way for other presenters and the likes of me who have different accents.”
Talking about obstacles she’s encountered, Lorraine disclosed how she once received advice suggesting her Glaswegian background would hold her back on TV.
However, looking back, she reflects positively: “It was actually the best thing that could have happened: that comment spurred me to phone the boss of the relatively new breakfast TV station TV- am, who asked me to come down for an interview and then hired me as Scottish correspondent (Bruce Gyngell was Australian so didn’t have the same class prejudices reporter!).”
Lorraine spoke out on the need for change, highlighting how today’s high living costs make it virtually unfeasible for working-class youths from across the UK to take up a position in London. She advocates for more chances outside the capital as well.
“We quite rightly have stressed the importance of diversity in recent years, but that also has to include young working-class people who understand and can relate to the vast majority of our viewers. It is in all of our interests to make sure they have the opportunity to have their voices heard.”
