Lorraine Kelly’s regular guest Dr Hilary Jones said he thankfully “got away with” the encounter, as he addressed his future on the show ahead of a major ITV shake-up
Lorraine show regular Dr Hilary Jones has opened up about a time he appeared on the programme while “drunk” – and later apologised to bosses. The professional medic has been a firm fixture on the show for several years, providing his expertise on a wide range of health topics. Reflecting on the early days of his appearances, Dr Hilary, 72, recalled a moment when his professionalism slipped while live on air.
He shared: “I’d run the New York Marathon and I had met up with two of my brothers to celebrate. Of course, I hadn’t eaten, hadn’t drunk, and there was a lot of beer. I was scheduled to do a live segment from a remote studio in Times Square with Lorraine on her show.”
The doctor explained that as he tried to figure out the remote camera setup, he was “suddenly live” and being asked questions by Lorraine.
“All I remember was giggling and laughing and talking rubbish because I was actually a bit drunk. Afterwards I thought, ‘They’re going to sack me, I’ve made a big faux pas. What did I say?'”
Fearing he had jeopardised his position, Dr Hilary said he called the show’s bosses the following day to apologise.
“I phoned them and said, ‘I’m really sorry’ and they said, ‘Why? You sounded brilliant, you just sounded happy! You sounded euphoric and it was really energetic and lovely.’ So, I got away with it.”
Since that humorous encounter, Dr Hilary has continued to appear regularly on the show, addressing the nation’s medical concerns.
However, next year will bring major changes to ITV’s schedule. From 2026, Lorraine and Loose Women will be shortened from an hour to 30 minutes and air on a “seasonal basis”.
Reflecting on his future involvement, Dr Hilary said: “What I think I’ll be doing is guest appearances. The plan is still being worked out, but there will still be medical input from me. I’ve been with them for so long that I think I’ll still be appearing on breakfast TV.”
Meanwhile, Lorraine has shared her thoughts on the changes to the programme she has fronted since 2010.
“It’s a different world we live in, isn’t it? I’m a realist and I knew there had to be cutbacks and changes. There are so many more outlets now, and television has to cut its cloth in every single department. It’s not like it was,” she told Woman Magazine.
Despite the adjustments, she remains optimistic about the future, adding: “This is just another change – who knows what will happen in six months? They might want to expand it, they might not. I love my job, I love working with these incredible people, so we just get on with it and see what happens. Nothing ever stays still.”
Lorraine airs weekdays from 9am on ITV and ITVX.
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