Ranvir Singh recalls how she was once left sobbing in a park with her toddler son Tushaan after being suspended by ITV.
The presenter, 45, who is now one of the channel’s top stars, was heartbroken after ‘giving up everything’ for the channel and leaving a comfortable job at the BBC.
Speaking of the difficult time on the Sliding doors podcast Ranvir said: ‘I had a very secure job at the BBC with a pension and everything.
“I was headhunted to go to ITV. So I’m giving up this whole safe life with the BBC and my friends and my life in Manchester to essentially move to London for a contract’.
Ranvir, who shares her boy, now 10, with ex-husband Ranjeet, continued: ‘It was a two-year contract. But I always remember being in the BBC newsroom and watching the little television and thinking, ‘I want to know what it’s like to be there [on national TV]’
AXED: Ranvir Singh, 45, recalls being left sobbing in a park with her toddler son after being suspended by ITV
Scary stuff: The host who is now one of the channel’s top stars was heartbroken after she ‘gave up everything’ and left a comfortable job at the BBC (pictured with GMB co-presenter Ben Shephard)
After giving up her career at a regional news station to work on a national platform, she soon found herself running out of a job.
“I’m here, 15 months into the job. The program is getting a whole rebrand and I’m not part of their plans.
“I found out at 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. and the email was gone.”
But when she found herself sobbing with her son, she received a very important call.
“I’m sitting in a park crying with my little boy and my phone rings and it’s John Stapleton – a longtime GMTV presenter.”
“He told me not to complain, to go ahead and do my job.”
Despite being told by bosses that her career had ‘plateauted’, Ranvir rejected the idea and soon found herself being offered a Saturday presenting gig.
Less than two months later, she was asked to host the News at Ten, before hosting GMB and replacing Lorraine Kelly on her self-titled show.
Memories: After giving up her career at a regional news channel to work on a national platform, she soon found herself running out of a job (L-R) Ranvir Singh, Susanna Reid
Back with a bang: Despite bosses telling her her career had ‘plateauted’, Ranvir rejected the idea and soon found herself being offered a presentation gig on Saturday, before hosting GMB and Lorraine (pictured)
Family: Ranvir pictured with son Tushaan and partner Louis Church
It comes after Ranvir and co-presenter Richard Madeley suffered a technical blunder while presenting a recent episode of Good Morning Britain.
The presenting duo were talking to NHS Confederation Chief Executive Matthew Taylor for a segment about the current junior doctors’ strikes, when fans noticed the mistake.
As Matthew shared his thoughts through a virtual apparition, the camera stayed on his screen – with Ranvir and Richard not in sight.
But despite not being on screen, the pair appeared to have left their mics on and could be heard “whispering” over their guest’s top.
While their exact words couldn’t be made out, the moment didn’t go unnoticed by fans – and some took to Twitter to note the moment.
Uncomfortable! Good Morning Britain suffered an embarrassing microphone blunder on a recent episode when hosts Richard Madeley and Ranvir were caught ‘whispering’ on camera
Oops: The pair could accidentally be heard but not seen talking to each other subconsciously
Ranvir asked Matthew what kind of pay rise doctors should aim for, if they got one.
The camera then focused on him as he began to answer, but off screen Ranvir could be heard whispering to Richard through her microphone.
The inaudible conversation could be heard in the background of Matthew’s answer, as Richard coughed and then answered.
One viewer took to Twitter after the moment, wondering, “What were they whispering about?”
While another said ‘Ranvir, we can hear you whispering over the microphone when people are talking’.