Helen Skelton claps back at ‘cheeky’ Jon Kay after he speaks out about Morning Live’s later start time following BBC uproar

Helen Skelton has hit back at Jon Kay after he spoke out ‘boldly’ about the BBC schedule shake-up.

Jon, 54, joked he would ‘hold the fort’ after BBC Breakfast was extended by 15 minutes, meaning a later start time for Morning Live.

Morning Live presenters Helen, 40, and Gethin Jones, 45, appeared via video link to chat about what’s going on in the show – and Jon couldn’t resist teasing them about the possibility of sleeping in more .

Jon, who was co-hosting with Sarah Campbell, said: ‘I know your show is running longer too, you’ve been extended, but does that mean you’re sleeping in a bit?’

Gethin replied, “No. You know what? That’s what I thought, but they had us come early to make sure we were done today because we still have a lot to do, but thanks for bringing that up too, Jon.”

Jon said, “We’ll hold the fort until 9:30 until you get your hair done and you’re ready, that’s fine.”

Helen took no nonsense and clapped back: ‘We are ready, what are you talking about? You cheeky monkey,” before all the presenters laughed.

Jon revealed the schedule shake-up on X, formerly known as Twitter.

He wrote: ‘It’s a big week for the #BBCBreakfast team. From now on, the program will be 15 minutes longer Monday to Friday.

‘Then our friends and neighbors @BBCMorningLive take over at 9.30am – and their show has been extended too! Britain’s two biggest morning shows just got BIGGER!’

The changes mean that instead of ending at 9.15am (which started at 6am), BBC Breakfast will now run until 9.30am.

But Morning Live has been given an even bigger extension, now as an hour and a quarter programme, instead of 45 minutes.

In the immediate aftermath of the new scheduling changes, Morning Live -hosted by the likes of Helen Skelton, Gethin Jones and Michelle Ackerley – will be followed by three shows before News At One.

For now they are Rip Off Britain, Homes Under The Hammer and Bargain Hunt.

Jon, 54, joked he would ‘hold the fort’ after BBC Breakfast extended the program by 15 minutes, meaning a later start time for Morning Live

Jon revealed on X: ‘It’s a big week for the #BBCBreakfast team. From now on, the program will be 15 minutes longer Monday to Friday. ‘Then at 9.30am @BBCMorningLive will take over’

BBC Breakfast has been extended by 15 minutes, while Morning Live – hosted by (above, L-R) Michelle Ackerley, Gethin and Helen, among others – has been extended by an extra half hour

However, between the same two weekday mainstays before the holidays, BBC One showed For Love Or Money, Frontline Fightback, Homes Under The Hammer and Bargain Hunt.

Another effect of BBC One’s scheduling changes is that the channel is now less in line with their main rival ITV.

Before the shake-up, BBC Breakfast and Morning Live filled exactly the same slot as Good Morning Britain and Lorraine before their rival, while Morning Live now runs 45 minutes in This Morning.

MailOnline has contacted the BBC for comment on the new schedule.