ITV’s live shows have been taken air after a suspicious package prompted a security alert near the London studios where they are filmed.
Viewers were left baffled after This Morning went off air suddenly on Thursday and Loose Women did not air a live show.
Tube stations White City and Wood Lane, which near to Television Centre, were closed after police found a suspicious package and the area was evacuated.
⚠️ White City and Wood Lane stations closed: While the police respond to a security alert outside the station.
— TfL Access (@TfLAccess) March 10, 2022
Police said they were called to Wood Lane, White City at 11.14am on Thursday.
At that time the live broadcast of This Morning went off air and a pre-recorded compilation show began.
A pre-recorded episode of Loose Women has also been shown.
A statement from Metropolitan Police said: “At 11:14hrs on Thursday, 10 March, police were called to reports of a security alert at Wood Lane, White City.
“It was reported a suspicious item had been discovered.
“The area was evacuated as a precaution and White City and Wood Lane tube stations were temporarily closed.
“The incident was stood down shortly before 12:49hrs.
“An investigation is ongoing.”
We apologise for the break in live programming today. We are currently running pre-recorded content and hope to be back with you soon.
— Loose Women (@loosewomen) March 10, 2022
This Morning went to an advert break during the final 15 minutes of the live show, but when it returned, an old episode of the show was being aired.
The opening credits appeared and were followed by a recorded clip of presenters Holly Willoughby and Phillip Schofield.
Schofield said: “Welcome to This Morning. As we can’t be with you live today we have lined up some of our best bits to enjoy.”
The re-run episode showed an interview with a tree-hugger and with “Britain’s dullest man”.
Panel show Loose Women, which is on ITV immediately after This Morning, also did not air a live show.
Instead, viewers were shown presenter Nadia Sawalha telling viewers they were seeing a “very special episode” of Loose Women, which would be showing the best bits of the Life Before Loose series.
Tweets on the This Morning and Loose Women accounts said: “We apologise for the break in live programming today. We are currently running pre-recorded content and hope to be back with you soon.”
A spokesperson for ITV said: “Due to a suspected security alert, the building which ITV daytime broadcast from was safely evacuated.
“The issue has been resolved and staff have returned to the building following the all-clear from the police. We apologise for the interruption to the schedule and we have now returned to normal programming.”