'ITV has dealt UK huge blow - lavish party while people face axe is sick'

ITV are celebrating their 70th birthday this year at a time when the company is making huge cuts across the board,  withsome staff already made redundant and others fearing for their jobs. You would never have realised this on Monday September 8 as the broadcaster's great and good donned their finery to dazzle at a lavish event to mark the occasion. A 70th birthday is a milestone that usually deserves to be acknowledged, however there is a time and a place. It seems extremely insensitive to spend a fortune on an event like this when people's livelihoods are being ripped away as management retain their high paying roles.

I appreciate the party budget was probably a separate fund to the production budget, which has suffered such heavy losses that shows are having their runtimes cut or being cancelled completely. But just because the money was there it doesn't mean having the party was appropriate. ITV commentators are the first to remark when the government or a high profile name does something deemed "bad optics". Yet they seem oblivious to the concept themselves.

Stars on the red carpet at their soiree, which no doubt featured flowing drinks and a lavish menu, included This Morning hosts Cat Deeley and Ben Shephard; the Good Morning Britain team including long standing host Susanna Reid, a slew of soap stars and a smattering of Loose Women. All beamed broadly despite the fact the broadcaster's daytime and soap output are being most heavily affected by the cuts.

ITV bosses announced cuts to Emmerdale and Coronation Street back in February. From January 2026, daytime will also look very different as Lorraine will lose its long-standing hour long slot.

The programme, which is fronted by Lorraine Kelly, will now air from 9.30am to 10am. Its airtime has been slashed in half, and the talk show will also only broadcast 30 weeks of the year. Loose Women is also having it's airtime cut to 30 weeks a year - just over half of its current output.

Ryan Thomas was among those at the party beaming broadly despite the axe of his gameshow 99 To Beat. Some high profile names have spoken out about their fears for the future of their jobs and axings and firings have been reported on as they happen.

What isn't being readily acknowledged is behind all the big stars on the axed shows is an entire crew and other team members who are now seeking new work in order to keep a roof over their heads and feed their families

Those being made redundant are losing regular incomes and pensions and there is no guarantee they will find new jobs or even be able to stay in the industry they love. Their lives are in disarray and watching ITV patting itself on the back as they partied can only have made the pill an even more bitter one to swallow.

ITV really should have thought twice about the party and been more sensitive to those caught up in the mess made by the powers that be.

Express.co.uk has contacted ITV for comment.