Lorraine Kelly's dramatic transformation over the years

Lorraine Kelly has dominated British TV screens for four decades, enjoying an illustrious career.

But as her ITV show celebrated its 40th anniversary, viewers got a glimpse into how the Scottish presenter herself has changed over the years.

As part of a special episode on Wednesday, photos of Lorraine throughout her TV career were unearthed - including her chat show debut.

Lorraine and a series of guests looked back on the presenter's long career including covering 9/11 and Lockerbie, as well as fronting health campaigns and receiving an OBE from the late Queen.

In one snap, a very young looking Lorraine, now 64, was seen working as a reporter as she recorded a segment in front of school busses, wearing a white trench coat and sporting a choppy brunette fringe. 

While in others, Lorraine was seen a few years later as she sported a bouffant 80s hairstyle with circular wide-rimmed glasses and chunky bejewelled earrings.

Lorraine is known for her colourful and vibrant power suits as she interviews the stars on her show. 

And old snaps show the beginnings of her trademark style as she donned a bright yellow structured a blazer.

Meanwhile in another she could be seen in a fuchsia pink number as she beamed at a guest. 

The breakfast show dedicated Wednesday's episode to a 40th year anniversary special.

The show also showed old clips of the presenter interviewing stars from Kylie Monogue and John Travolta to Take That, Hugh Jackman and Rylan Clark.  

Discussing a new documentary in her honour, Lorraine Kelly: 40 Unforgettable Years, that airs on ITV1 tonight at 9pm, Lorraine said: 'I might have mentioned it, that I'm a granny but this is going to be so lovely to show Billie when she's old enough, as well with the documentary tonight, the most amazing photo album.'

The star added: 'It just feels like it's gone by in a flash and I've been so incredibly lucky because, mainly with the people that I work with, all of these incredible people, my great team.

'It's a joy to go into work every morning, an absolute joy.'

Congratulatory messages were played from musical legends Tom Jones, Gary Barlow, Brian McFadden, Aled Jones, as well as Rylan, Graham Norton and Ant and Dec.

Taking a trip through time, Ranvir and Lorraine reminisced on life in the 90s and Lorraine's GMTV career, alongside Good Morning Britain's Kate Garraway.

Kate told the pair: 'It was iconic because it was Lorraine's involvement. That's the thing about you, you make everything better and bigger, and with such good spirit.' before sharing stories from their time sharing a dressing room together! 

Lorraine will mark her incredible four decade long career with a documentary titled Lorraine Kelly: 40 Unforgettable Years which will air on Wednesday at 9pm.

It will explore Lorraine's childhood growing up in Glasgow to her life and achievements up to the present day.

The documentary will also include interviews with her family and friends while taking an insight into the origins of her work ethic and values which remain with her today.

Her fellow ITV stars and former hosts are full of praise for Lorraine, with GMB's Susanna Reid calling her 'a trailblazer for women' in the documentary. 

Piers Morgan said: 'Lorraine is an iron first in a velvet glove. She creates a persona that people think is very benign, very nice, very smiley but underneath it is a proper journalist.'

This Morning star Alison Hammond added: 'She definitely has paved the way for other presenters and the likes of me who have different accents.'

Over her forty year journey in the industry, the TV presenter has been the front of a whole range of breakfast and daytime television shows including GMTV, Good Morning Britain and This Morning.

However, she is probably best known for presenting her self-titled ITV show Lorraine throughout the week - which has been running for fourteen years.  

But her journey to the top has not been a straightforward one, as she was met with many obstacles along the way. 

Speaking on the struggles she faced when starting out in the industry, Lorraine said: 'I was given opportunities that, sadly, have become almost non-existent. I went straight to my local newspaper from school and then to the BBC (after acquiring a bottom drawer full of rejection letters). 

'In fact, I was told by the boss of BBC Scotland that I would never make it in TV because of my working-class Glasgow accent. 

'It was actually the best thing that could have happened: that comment spurred me to phone the boss of the relatively new breakfast TV station TV- am, who asked me to come down for an interview and then hired me as Scottish correspondent (Bruce Gyngell was Australian so didn't have the same class prejudices reporter!)'