Ranvir Singh has revealed the depths of her emotional reaction after being told she was to be axed by ITV. The mum-of-one, who had risked it all by moving from rivals BBC, was left sitting in a park in floods of tears with her toddler shortly after hearing she was not wanted by the channel.
Ranvir - who was only 15 months into her job at the broadcaster - said bosses told her she wasn't part of their future plans. However, the much-loved presenter refused to give in and is now one of the channel's most popular stars with on Good Morning Britain, whilst also filling in for Lorraine, reports the Mirror.
Speaking on the Sliding Doors podcast, she told host Jennie Becker about the moment she thought he had thrown it all away. The 45-year-old had been working in one of the Beeb's regional newsrooms but had aspirations to go national.
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Ranvir said: "I had a very secure job with BBC job with a pension and everything. I got headhunted to go to ITV. So I give up this whole secure life at the BBC and my friends and my life in Manchester to move to London, essentially, for a contract.
"It was a two-year contract. But I always remember being in the newsroom at the BBC and looking up at the little television and thinking, 'I want to know what it's like to be there [on a national]'."
But just over a year after her move, she was told she was surplus to requirements, leaving her worrying for her career and her future. Ravir said: "I'm there, 15 months into the job. The programme gets a whole rebrand and I'm not a part of their plans. I found out at 10 o'clock in the morning and by 10.30am and email had gone out."
As she sobbed in the park with her son, she received a phonecall which may have been the most important she ever took. "There's me crying in a park with my little son and My phone rings and it's John Stapleton - a long-term GMTV presenter," she said. "He told me not complain, carry on turning up and to do my job."
Following the phone call, she began emailing the editor of ITV News, Geoff Hill, and things soon changed. He told the journalist her career had "plateaued" which Ranvir rejected and explained her broadcasting career can only go one way - and that is up.
He went on to offer Ranvir a Saturday presenting gig and a week later she also got to present a show on Sundays. Less than two months later, she received a call to present the News at Ten on Fridays.
Ranvir has since been a presenter on Good Morning Britain since its launch in 2014 - which replaced Daybreak. She is also a regular presenter on ITV News and also fills in for Lorraine Kelly on her daytime programme.
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