Ranvir Singh left sobbing in park after being axed from ITV job

09 June 2023 , 14:10
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Ranvir Singh left sobbing in park after being axed from ITV job
Ranvir Singh left sobbing in park after being axed from ITV job

Ranvir Singh says she was left sitting in a park in floods of tears with her toddler after being told ITV no longer wanted her.

The TV favourite has opened up about the most challenging time of her professional career after risking it all by leaving the BBC.

She says ITV bosses told her she wasn't part of their future plans a year after she left her comfy BBC job and moved to London.

But she refused to give up and is now one of the channel's most popular stars on Good Morning Britain, whilst also filling in for Lorraine.

Speaking on the Sliding Doors podcast, she told host Jennie Becker about the moment she thought she had thrown it all away.

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Ranvir Singh left sobbing in park after being axed from ITV jobRanvir Singh wasn't put off by a potentially career-threatening decision (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Ranvir Singh left sobbing in park after being axed from ITV jobShe didn't look back after the blow and even starred on Strictly (PA)

When contacted by the Mirror, an ITV spokesperson said: "Ranvir's comments were in relation to a time early in her career, some 11 years ago, when she first moved to ITV.

"She has continued to work for ITV ever since first joining in 2012, and as viewers will know, is currently a main presenter on ITV formats across the schedule including GMB, Lorraine, ITV News and quiz show Riddiculous, which goes into its second series soon. "

Ranvir, 45, told Jennie: "I had a very secure job with BBC job with a pension and everything.

"I got headhunted to go to ITV. So I give up this whole secure life at the BBC and my friends and my life in Manchester to move to London, essentially, for a contract.

"It was a two-year contract. But I always remember being in the newsroom at the BBC and looking up at the little television and thinking, 'I want to know what it's like to be there [on a national]."

Ranvir was working at the regional newsroom but told bosses she wanted to work on a national platform.

Ranvir Singh left sobbing in park after being axed from ITV jobThe terrible news left her crying in the park but she picked herself up fast (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

"I'm there, 15 months into the job. The programme gets a whole rebrand and I'm not a part of their plans.

"I found out at 10 o'clock in the morning and by 10.30 am and email had gone out."

But a phone call when she was blubbing with her boy may have been the most important she ever took.

"There's me crying in a park with my little son and My phone rings and it's John Stapleton - a long-term GMTV presenter."

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"He told me not to complain, carry on turning up and to do my job."

Ranvir Singh left sobbing in park after being axed from ITV jobRanvir is now even the next in line on Lorraine (Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

After emailing the editor of ITV News, Geoff Hill, things soon changed for Ranvir.

He cheekily told the journalist her career had "plateaued" which Ranvir rejected and explained her broadcasting career can only go one way and that is up.

He offered Ranvir a Saturday presenting gig and a week later she also got to present a show on Sundays.

Less than two months later, she received a call to present the News at Ten on Fridays.

Ranvir has been a presenter on Good Morning Britain since its launch in 2014 - which replaced Daybreak.

She is also a regular presenter on ITV News and also fills in for Lorraine Kelly on her daytime programme.

Sam Elliott-Gibbs

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