Television's highest-paid daytime host 'revealed' as star bagged 'half a million pounds' despite only appearing in 99 episodes

Television's highest-paid daytime host has been revealed and they reportedly bagged over half a million pounds in 2023 - despite only appearing in 99 of their programme's 173 episodes.

Lorraine Kelly, who hosts eponymous daytime show Lorraine on ITV, is estimated to have earnt 568,000 in 2023.

The Scotswoman, 64, paid £108,000 tax for the year to December 2023, which can be extrapolated to her earnings £568,000.

As well as this, Lorraine's personal services company Albatel boasts assets including £3.1million in the bank, all according to The Sun. 

News of Lorraine's wealth will come as an annoyance to many who complain of her continual absence.

Addressing more ITV stars, The Sun revealed that experiencing a drop in wealth is Loose Women head panellist Ruth Langsford who saw her worth drop from £3.3million to £1.9million.

This Morning mainstay Cat Deeley is thought to be worth around £13million, with an annual salary of £550.000.

However, not doing so well is her fragrance brand, e11even, whose accounts showing £76.000 debts. 

Her rotating co-workers Alison Hammond and Dermot O'Leary are worth £139,000 and £2.7million respectively. 

In February, Lorraine spoke out for the first time after she discovered a Twitter account criticising her work ethic. 

Called Where Is Lorraine?, with the handle @LorraineKWatch, the account updates followers on whether or not the Scottish star has hosted the show that day.

Viewers were left baffled when the TV host was missing from her show, but later appeared on This Morning. 

While Ranvir Singh covered Lorraine's role, Lorraine set the record straight as she addressed the Twitter account committed to tracking her days off. 

Speaking on Woman's Hour with host Anita Rani, Lorraine defiantly said of the account, which now has almost 19,000 followers: 'I know, the amount of space that I occupy in people's heads is quite bizarre.'

Insisting the account doesn't bother her, she explained: 'Its fine. I don't mind, I don't care. I probably would have cared before but I really don't now it's absolutely fine.'

The star went on to explain the real reason she had been missing from a number of shows lately as she is taking some time off to care for her mother who is unwell. 

Lorraine continued: 'But you should never comment on things like that if you don't know what is going on in people's lives but I am having to take quite a few Fridays off because my mum is really not well. 

'So I can go home now and spend some more time with her and help her a bit more than I have been able to. So that is happening just now but that will change.

'I have been doing five days a week for 40 years so I am just taking a wee bit of time off and obviously this week is half term which is why I am able to talk to you!' 

Heartbroken Lorraine had rushed to to be by her elderly mother's bedside in July 2023 after Anne was admitted into University Hospital Monklands, in Lanarkshire. 

She last gave an update on her health in May, writing on Instagram: 'Mum continues to defy everything and everyone!! 

'Took her for lunch in Glasgow and we had a lovely time. Even managed a wee walk. She is the very definition of indomitable!! So proud of her.'

Lorraine also shared a health update on her 'brave' mother Anne, 81, in March.

Taking to Instagram for Mother's Day, Lorraine wrote: 'Happy Mother’s Day to my brave lovely mum - coping with a tough illness and still able to (occasionally) say cheers! and always living each day to the full!'. 

Lorraine has not disclosed Anne's illness.