Lorraine Kelly made her long-awaited return to ITV on Monday morning for her 100th episode this year, after almost seven weeks off for summer and becoming a grandmother – and fans couldn’t help but make the same jokes.
The TV presenter, 64, announced on Sunday that her daughter Rosie Smith had welcomed a baby girl called Billie with her fiancé Steve White and gushed that she is ‘bursting with joy’.
Appearing on today’s installment of the breakfast programme, Lorraine told fans that it’s ‘so good to be back,’ after her extended break, which was covered by the likes of Christine Lampard and Ranvir Singh.
Updating viewers on becoming Granny Smith, Lorraine said: ‘I am biased but she is absolutely beautiful.
‘And Rosie’s great, she’s really taken to it. I knew she would anyway, super organised. She really has taken to it so so well and her Steve is an angel. He’s been brilliant, already changing nappies, he’s so hands on.’
Lorraine Kelly made her long-awaited return to ITV on Monday morning for her 100th episode this year, after almost seven weeks off for summer and becoming a grandmother – and fans are all making the same jokes
The TV presenter, 64, announced on Sunday that her daughter Rosie Smith had welcomed a baby girl called Billie with her fiancé Steve White and gushed that she is ‘bursting with joy’
Regulars Dr Amir Khan, Mark Heyes, and Dr Hilary Jones sat down with the ITV star as she was gifted some presents for the little one on air – including a Lorraine baby grow.
However, as she made her comeback, the ongoing viral jokes about her absences also made a return on social media.
The X (formerly Twitter) account Where Is Lorraine?, with the handle @LorraineKWatch, updates followers on whether or not the Scottish star has hosted the show that day.
Taking to social media to joke about her comeback, fans quipped:
‘A grandchild for Lorraine Kelly? She’s just secured the next 20 years of half-terms and summer holidays off work! #Lorraine’
‘Lorraine Kelly when the public ask why she hasn’t presented her own show for 6 weeks #Lorraine’
‘Jesus #Lorraine is blagging this granny business now get on with your show you’ve had 6 weeks off’
‘The nation on edge anticipating Lorraine’s return’
Regulars Dr Amir Khan , Mark Heyes, and Dr Hilary Jones sat down with the ITV star as she was gifted some presents for the little one on air – including a Lorraine baby grow
The X (formerly Twitter) account Where Is Lorraine?, with the handle @LorraineKWatch, updates followers on whether or not the Scottish star has hosted the show that day
However, as she made her comeback, the ongoing viral jokes about her absences also made a return on social media
‘Hooray, #Lorraine is back for her four hour a week highly paid job! #gmb’
‘Lorraine Kelly’s like buses, don’t hear hide nor hair from her for months & then she’s on my telly twice in one morning’
‘Lorraine is actually there #GMB’
‘Surprised #Lorraine ain’t taking granny maternity leave’.
‘Lorraine 31 yr old kid is back at school today so she can go back to work #gmb’
‘How are we all celebrating Lorraine’s 100th episode may I ask? Day off work in honour? Cheeky wee glass of wine? Quiche Lorraine? #lorraine’
In February, Lorraine hit back at the work-shy criticism and set the record straight as she addressed the Twitter account committed to tracking her days off.
Speaking on Woman’s Hour with host Anita Rani, Lorraine admitted she was aware of the account, which now has over 12,000 followers, as she said: ‘I know, the amount of space that I occupy in people’s heads is quite bizarre.’
The TV presenter, 64, announced on Sunday that her daughter Rosie Smith had welcomed a baby girl called Billie with her fiancé Steve White and gushed that she is ‘bursting with joy’ (Lorraine and Rosie pictured in April)
Not letting the social media trolls get to her, Lorraine uploaded an adorable photo of newborn baby Billie’s hand to Instagram on Sunday and wrote: ‘I have been BURSTING to share this wonderful news with you!
Insisting the account doesn’t bother her, she explained: ‘It’s fine. I don’t mind, I don’t care. I probably would have cared before but I really don’t now it’s absolutely fine.’
Not letting the social media trolls get to her, Lorraine uploaded an adorable photo of newborn baby Billie’s hand to Instagram on Sunday and wrote: ‘I have been BURSTING to share this wonderful news with you!
‘Baby Billie is an angel and I’m so proud of Rosie and Steve who will be the best parents. I’m delighted to be Granny Smith and can’t wait to go on adventures.’
Rosie added: ‘Baby Billie Kelly Smith-White is here 29-08-2024.’
‘It feels like she’s been here the whole time and we’re not quite sure what the point of anything was before.
‘I’d heard how amazing midwives are but they are genuinely walking angels – she’s been welcomed into the world with so much love already.’
Back in May, Rosie confirmed she would welcome a baby girl with partner Steve and was adamant the child’s name will have strong ties to her Scottish heritage.
Rosie told HELLO!: ‘We’d talked about it a lot and we both wanted to become parents quite young, so that our parents can be around for as much as possible.’
She was also keen to reference the child’s Scottish ancestry when choosing a name, but admits she’s having a hard time finding one.
‘I really wanted to have a Scottish connection and we had a Scottish boy name sorted, but girls are hard. I’d like to have options,’ she explained.
Celebrating Rosie’s pregnancy on her ITV show, Lorraine told viewers: ‘I’m going to be a granny! How exciting is that? Granny Smith because, you know, my married name is Smith!’
She continued: ‘So I’m Granny Smith! We’re all very excited, it’s huge and wonderful and yeah… it’s just cheered everybody up, which is just great!
‘Thank you to everybody who has sent me messages, it was really kind of you… thank you very much, it means a lot, it means a lot!’