Daybreak is finding its feet – claims Christine Bleakley

Christine Bleakley has claimed that Daybreak, the ITV breakfast programme she co-hosts with Adrian Chiles, is finding its feet.

 

Christine Bleakley has claimed that Daybreak, the ITV breakfast programme she co-hosts with Adrian Chiles, is finding its feet. The show replaced GMTV in September but has been dogged by bad press and tumbling ratings. There has also been press speculation that Daybreak will be revamped, it’s name will be changed or that Bleakley or Chiles will be offered work elsewhere by ITV because of the failure of the show to take off with viewers. However, former The One Show presenter Christine Bleakley believes the show is now finding its feet after several troubled months.

 

“There’s been a real turn since last week. We feel like we’re finding our feet. It’s a case of changing things that don’t work and hoping people decide to give it a go. Things have to evolve. There’s been the odd personal dig that can be hurtful – I’ve had to get tougher and that doesn’t come naturally to me.” – Christine Bleakley in the News of the World

 

Last week saw the first rise in ratings for Daybreak since it launched. Previously ratings had declined to lows of 500,000 viewers. The breakfast magazine programme saw audiences climb to 800,000 viewers last week. However, despite a strike by BBC journalists on Friday which affected rival show Breakfast – stand-in presenter Gavin Grey fronted the clearly disrupted show – Daybreak failed to pull in any more viewers. Ratings for Breakfast held steady despite the strike by members of the National Union of Journalists.