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BBC bosses land huge TV star for Morning Live as ratings battle heats up

TV host Penny Smith made a surprise return to BBC Morning Live as she presented a special report investigating the EU's controversial new fingerprint scanner system

[Eamonn Holmes and Penny Smith]

Penny briefly reunited with Eamonn Holmes on GB News(Image: GB News)

BBC chiefs are thought to be intensifying matters in the ratings battle against ITV, as they've seemingly enlisted television stalwart Penny Smith for their premier programme Morning Live.

The seasoned presenter, 67, made an unexpected comeback to daytime broadcasting as she led a special segment examining turmoil surrounding the EU's contentious new fingerprint scanning technology impacting British travellers.

Penny was spotted delivering reports from Manchester Airport, where she interviewed exasperated passengers and even experimented with different products on her hands, including moisturiser, water and alcohol wipes, to observe their impact on fingerprint scanning outcomes.

[Penny Smith on BBC Morning Live]

Viewers were delighted to see Penny on Morning Live(Image: BBC)

Her presence instantly thrilled audiences, with numerous viewers demanding she becomes a regular feature on the programme. One admirer posted on social media: "Can we please see more of Penny Smith on Morning Live?" Another commented: "Great to see Penny Smith back on TV."

According to the Daily Mail, broadcasting sources have indicated BBC bosses were delighted with the response to Penny's segment and might now consider bringing her back more frequently.

An insider suggested the former GMTV host remains enormously beloved by daytime viewers owing to her decades of television expertise.

Penny established herself as a familiar face during her 17-year tenure on GMTV before departing ITV in 2010 amid a significant budget reduction initiative. Prior to this, she played a key role in the launch of Sky News in 1989 and subsequently carved out a successful radio career with stations such as BBC London, TalkRadio and Magic Classical, reports the Express.

[Penny with her former GMTV colleague John Stapleton]

Penny with her former GMTV colleague John Stapleton(Image: GMTV)

She has also made appearances on programmes like Have I Got News for You and Never Mind the Buzzcocks.

Morning Live, presented by Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones, has gradually become one of the BBC's most successful daytime shows since its inception in 2020.

The show now consistently draws in over one million viewers and often surpasses ITV competitor This Morning in the ratings.

In 2024, the BBC extended the programme's duration as competition with This Morning heightened following the exits of former presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.

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