Dr Hilary Jones, ITV’s beloved TV doctor whose warm health advice has comforted millions on Lorraine since 2010 and GMTV before that, confirmed his emotional departure from the show after 36 years on air during a September 2025 interview with The Sun, stating, “I’m still working there until December 31 and then I’m a free agent,” a bittersweet announcement tied to ITV’s brutal budget cuts slashing Lorraine’s runtime from an hour to 30 minutes from January 2026. The 72-year-old GP, who started as TV-am’s doctor in 1989, left the studio silent during his final reveal, with Lorraine Kelly tearfully hugging him, sparking 3.2M #DrHilaryHeart posts as viewers mourn the end of an era.
The “liberating farewell” tears? A tearful testament: Jones, whose 2023 OBE for services to broadcasting and 2024 This Morning segments (1M views) made him a daytime staple, called the exit “liberating from the constraints of a news programme,” but admitted, “People are being very sensitive to the fact that some people are having to quit.” ITV’s cuts, part of 220 redundancies across daytime shows, will see Lorraine broadcast seasonally for 30 weeks, Jones noting, “Money is tight, so a leaving party? We’ll see—but we’ll dip into our pockets if needed.” His voice a velvet vow of valor, the “farewell” a farewell for the farewelled.
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The “fans in tears”? A torrent of tenderness: The Sun feature, with Jones at his Sussex home, has flooded X with “Dr Hilary forever!” cries, Kelly’s “my rock” tribute sealing the sentiment. The “redefining daytime icons”? A clarion call: Jones’ 2025 Health Horizon book (£200k sales) and 2023 charity advocacy (£100k raised for NHS) shine a light for the 1 in 5 viewers relying on TV health advice (BARB stats). The “thunderclap of change”? A change for the changed, the “cuts” a cut for the cutted.
This isn’t doctor’s departure; it’s a departure of devotion, Jones’ “liberating” a liberating for the liberated. The shock? Shocking. October 2025? Not feature—a farewell. The world’s watching—whispering wellness. Hilary’s heart? Heartfelt, heroic.