April 28, 2014

Good Morning Britain smiles better than Daybreak, but is it trying too hard?

Good Morning Britain launched today on ITV replacing Daybreak, the channel’s former breakfast show.

The new breakfast show features four presenters sitting together at a glass table rather than on sofas as in the past.

Good Morning Britain is fronted by Susanna Reid who moved from BBC Breakfast to present the programme. She is reportedly paid around £400,000 a year in her new role (initial reports of a £1m a year package have since been rejected by ITV insiders).

Reid was joined by former Sky presenters Ben Shephard, Sean Fletcher and Charlotte Hawkins.

Initial reactions suggest the programme was an improvement on much-criticised Daybreak.

Daily Telegraph writer Michael Hogan said: “BBC Breakfast might just have a viable rival”.

The presenters hardly stopped smiling on the American-style set. Daily Mirror live-blogger Rob Leigh said: “They’re smiling so much their faces will need planning permission for grinny extensions.”

Independent media editor Ian Burrell wrote: "The overall result, as a commentator on the Radio Times blog noted, was that the show was 'trying too much, too many times for too many people'.

"It was never going to be easy launching into a market where the BBC has such a commanding position and at a time of day when other media have audiences that breakfast television can only dream of.

"As a contributor to the Digital Spy website observed, 'Radio is king in the mornings' and no matter how much Good Morning Britain improves it’s never likely to be able to compete with John Humphrys and the Today programme or Chris Evans on Radio.

There was also some positive reaction on Twitter. One Show presenter Angellica Bell said:

Really enjoyed @GMB and it's nice to have @benshephard on screen and @CharlotteHawkns is ace! They're all great! Love the look and feel.

— Angellica Bell (@angellicabell) April 28, 2014

This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby:

Good Morning Britain is looking rather lovely… Good morning y'all! Xxx #goodmorningbritain

— Holly Willoughby (@hollywills) April 28, 2014

Viewer Anthony Trythall:

#GoodMorningBritain was a great looking show, fast-paced, fresh and engaging. Great directing @errongordon. Well done to the whole team.

— Andrew Trythall (@PhotoParadiso) April 28, 2014

But Sky News presenter Kay Burley was not impressed:

Just watching Good Morning Britain … there's so much going on I need a little lie down.

— Kay Burley (@KayBurley) April 28, 2014

Neither was viewer Jamie Walker:

Hmm. Not keen on Good Morning Britain. There's too much moving text on my TV screen for this time of the morning! #GMB

— JAMIE JOHN WALKER (@JamieJohnWalker) April 28, 2014