Lorraine Kelly in terrifying BOMB THREAT as package addressed to her sparks ITV evacuation
ITV favourite Lorraine Kelly was named on a suspicious package which saw all of ITV’s studios evacuated and shows pulled off air today.
The daytime telly legend was the intended recipient of a box which was picked up by the network’s security staff before it reached her – prompting a terrifying mass evacuation from the building.
TV’s biggest names including Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield were quickly ushered from the west London complex as police arrived and a full investigation was carried out on the unidentified item.
It’s said the 62-year-old host was “very concerned” at the prospect of being a potential target – but it remains unclear what the package actually contained. It is since thought to have been removed by experts.
A source said: "Word quickly got around that whatever the box contained, it was addressed to Lorraine.
"Everyone at ITV loves her - so people were upset and very concerned over the whole incident. Fortunately everyone is safe, but it shakes everyone up."
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The broadcaster was off air for around two hours – with shows including This Morning and Loose Women both affected and replaced by pre-recorded content.
A spokesperson for ITV said: "Due to a suspected security alert, the building which ITV daytime broadcast from was safely evacuated.
“The issue has been resolved and staff have returned to the building following the all clear from the police. We apologise for the interruption to the schedule and we have now returned to normal programming.”
Lorraine has been one of ITV’s best loved faces for decades – starting out on TV-AM in 1984 as a correspondent before becoming a host and moving onto GMTV and later her own eponymous daily magazine show.
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During the scare all live shows transferred to pre-recorded compilations amid the chaos.
When This Morning returned from a break at 12.14pm, the titles ran again with Holly and Phil in an old video.
Phillip told viewers, in a clip recorded in case of an emergency: “Welcome to This Morning. As we can't be with you live today we have lined up some of our best bits to enjoy.”
The hosts showed no sign that they would not be back live after the adverts, with Holly saying: “See you after the break.”
But they didn't return, with the “emergency” show airing in place of live action from the studio.
The chaos continued into the schedule at 12.30pm, with a pre-recorded episode of Loose Women airing in place of the advertised live show.
A caption appeared at the bottom of the screen reading: “This is a pre-recorded programme.”
A Met Police spokesperson confirmed the area had been evacuated following the discovery of a "suspicious" item.
They said: “At 11:14hrs on Thursday, 10 March, police were called to reports of a security alert at Wood Lane, White City.
“It was reported a suspicious item had been discovered.
“The area was evacuated as a precaution and White City and Wood Lane tube stations were temporarily closed.
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“The incident was stood down shortly before 12:49hrs.
“An investigation is ongoing.”
