The best of daytime TV

Daytime TV can be one of the most hypnotising and awe-inspiring elements of British broadcasting. Where else would you find yourself intently watching and staring at a segment named “Would you blow-dry your lashes?” on Lorraine, “Our psychic banana has gone global!” on This Morning, or even “If you’re not a cheat, why are you hiding a phone in your shoe?” on The Jeremy Kyle Show.

Daytime TV is so watchable simply because it is so jaw-droppingly random – yet gripping. It’s something that viewers can easily tune in and out of while they go about their daily routine at home, in the safe knowledge that they haven’t missed anything particularly important, but can still join at any given point without being out of the loop.

It is so jaw-droppingly random – yet gripping

Without doubt, ITV currently dominates the daytime line-up, with: Good Morning Britain – a light-hearted breakfast programme that mixes interesting debate and controversy with the day’s news. That’s typically followed by Lorraine – the nation’s sweetheart presenting a topical programme that follows GMB. The Jeremy Kyle Show follows – which typically features scandals within families and friendship groups, but also some truly heartwarming segments typically focussing on family reunions. This Morning – my personal favourite, a 2-hour live programme presented by television royalty Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby. And then Loose Women, a show with a similar premise to the US’s The View which is an all-women panel discussing the day’s  hot topics. ITV’s daytime line-up is strong. It has range, but also a loyal fan base who have grown to love the trusty schedule of morning entertainment.

Phil and Holly, have successfully built something of a personality-cult around themselves

Shows like This Morning have been going on for a long time because they cover news and events that are topical and relevant to their target audience. They have a variety of segments, from news to fashion, competitions to health. There’s something in there for everyone. On top of this, the most recent presenters of the long-running show, Phil and Holly, have successfully built something of a personality-cult around themselves. Videos posted on their YouTube channel highlight the constant bloopers and shocking moments from the live programme – and viewers love it. Their popularity has continued to grow alongside the show itself.

It seems then that the formula for a successful daytime TV show nowadays is a mixture of a strong line-up of presenters, mixed with a broad range of content that caters to just about everyone’s needs. Ensuring programmes are always on at a certain time, so viewers know what time they need to be free, no doubt helps the success of daytime TV – allowing for viewers to stay loyal to a particular programme.