Martin Frizell is stepping down as editor of ITV’s This Morning show after 10 years in charge, it has been revealed.
Frizell, married to former GMTV presenter Fiona Phillips, had joined the broadcaster in 2014 as editor of Loose Women before taking over at This Morning.
She had revealed in July 2023 that she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s the previous year.
One ITV source said today: ‘It is the 24/7 nature of the role which isn’t conducive to Fiona’s illness and next year he thinks that he is going to have to be around so much more for her.
‘His family commitments are about to change and he needs a job that can blend into that rather than a job which takes over his entire life.’
Martin Frizell, pictured in February this year, is stepping down as editor of ITV’s This Morning programme after 10 years in charge
Frizell is seen here with former This Morning presenters Holly Willoughby and Philip Schofield at the TV Choice Awards in September 2019
ITV today said he would be leaving this role in Spring next year.
Frizell said in a statement this afternoon: ‘Next year I’m expecting my family priorities to change so I need to free up time for them.
‘I love my team at ITV and will miss them and the thrill of live telly but it’s an always on, 24 hours a day, seven days a week commitment and I won’t be able to do both.’
Frizell’s time in charge of This Morning has included controversy over the departure of Philip Schofield last year, followed later by that of co-host Holly Willoughby.
He added in today’s statement: ‘It’s been a privilege to lead truly great presenters and producers, between us we’ve turned out more than six thousand hours of live topical telly, that’s around 20,000 items and the gongs are always nice.’
He described his pride in campaigns covering subjects such as suicide, menopause, testicular cancer, adding: ‘This juggernaut is the toughest test for any broadcast journalist.’
Kevin Lygo, ITV’s managing director for media and entertainment, paid tribute to him, saying: ‘This Morning is an iconic show in ITV’s schedule, and heading the team for a decade, producing more than ten hours of original, topical, live television every week is an amazing achievement.
‘As a programme and a brand, Martin has made sure the show continues to be a household name, an award-winning staple of the schedule with a growing successful presence in digital and social.
‘On behalf of the ITV Network, we thank Martin and wish him the very best for his future ventures.’
And Emma Gormley, managing director for ITV Studios Daytime, added: ‘Martin has brought so much success to This Morning over the last decade which has seen an evolving landscape of changing and diversifying viewing habits.
‘Under Martin, This Morning is now one of the nation’s most engaged formats, on both ITV and social platforms, hitting an amazing 1billion views across this year alone; an incredible legacy.
‘I am proud of the brilliance and energy that he has brought to his role as custodian of this iconic brand.
‘Martin’s decade-long contribution to the longevity and good health of our flagship show has been remarkable, and he leaves it in a place where it can continue to thrive into the next decade and beyond.’
In an email to ITV staff, Frizell said: ‘Hello friends, hopefully you have not heard on the grapevine and maybe you weren’t in planning today so this could be a surprise for you – but I am leaving.
‘This will be my last Christmas at a programme that I have loved working on and the best bit was working with you.
‘As you probably know, I have stuff going on in my personal life which quite rightly takes up some time and sadly a show like This Morning is a seven day always on job – which I love but I do need to free up even just a few hours for others.
I plan to carry on working and I’ll let you know more later but I will be around for a while yet, I have been in talks with Kevin and Emma and they have asked me to stay until spring so it’s business as usual for now and luckily more of my really fun humour, which I know you appreciate!’
ITV said the outgoing editor’s successor would be announced ‘in due course’.