Kate Garraway to be GMTV successor Daybreak’s entertainment editor

Kate Garraway is to take on the role of entertainment editor when GMTV is revamped to become Daybreak – but regulars Carla Romano and Richard Arnold are to quit.

Kate Garraway is to take on the role of entertainment editor for Daybreak

ITV1 unveiled details of the new on-screen line-up which will see former One Show stars Adrian Chiles and Christine Bleakley at the helm.

The broadcaster said that Garraway’s new role will entail ‘covering the major stories in the world of showbusiness and culture’.

Garraway will anchor entertainment news from the studio as well as conducting A-list interviews and covering exclusive showbiz events, ITV1 said.

Garraway said: ‘This is a fantastic opportunity to spread my wings in an exciting new role. Showbusiness is big business and Daybreak will be the place for all the big interviews and stories.’

Steve Hargrave will join Garraway as entertainment correspondent.

ITV1 said that as part of the changes, Romano and Arnold have decided that they will not be part of the Daybreak team.

Los Angeles-based Romano described her time at GMTV as like a ‘rollercoaster… exciting, scary, hilarious and unpredictable’.

She said: ‘Hollywood has become my home and, given my personal ties here, this is where I need to be at the moment. It is time to start a new chapter and to explore opportunities on both sides of the Atlantic.’

TV critic Arnold added: ‘It has been a craic every day for 10 years and I very much look forward to the exciting projects ahead.’

The wave of GMTV presenters who are set to leave or have already gone includes Emma Crosby, Andrew Castle, Ben Shephard and Penny Smith.

Veteran broadcaster John Stapleton will carry on at Daybreak as special correspondent, Richard Gaisford will be chief correspondent and Dr Hilary Jones will be health editor.

Grainne Seoige, whose resemblance to Bleakley has been remarked upon and whose recent appearances on the couch have been a big hit with viewers, will join Daybreak as features editor.

The programme will come from new ‘state of the art’ studios from September, with Lorraine Kelly presenting a new follow-on show.