Lorraine Kelly's ex boss claims credit for her success and claims career backstory 'absolutely untrue'

Former TV boss Mike Hollingsworth says he gave Lorraine her first job, contrary to the ITV star’s account of her big break.

Lorraine Kelly’s backstory of entering into the world of television has been called into question by a former boss.

The Scots star, 64, first appeared on our screens in the eighties, and earlier this week showcased her rise to fame in an ITV documentary that celebrated her decades-long career.

However, Mike Hollingsworth - Anne Diamond's ex-husband and a TV executive and Director of Programmes at the time - asserts that he is owed credit for Lorraine’s stardom, reports the Mirror.

The ITV documentary, which aired on Wednesday, showed Lorraine saying that she was relatively unknown as a junior in a regional office.

She claims that she took the initiative to call the breakfast station's managing director, who asked her to jump on a train to London, which landed her a job.

Mike - now retired - challenged this account, saying Lorraine omitted crucial details of her early career.

In the documentary, Lorraine claims she was hired by TV-am in 1984 because the TV station was run by "an Australian" who was not dissuaded by her Glasgow accent. But Mike claimed that he had first hired Lorraine.

Mike told the MailOnline: "Once again she credits the late Australian MD of TV-am with giving her the chance of a job. This is absolutely untrue - in fact the reverse was the case. Gyngell didn't initially like my choice because of her Scottish brogue but I took a stand against his view."

Latest news on Lorraine Kelly

• Lorraine Kelly's tribute
• Inside Lorraine Kelly's £2m family home
• Lorraine named patron of Dunblane centre
• Lorraine's stunning leopard print dress

He added: "I am a bit miffed that she constantly refers to her beginnings as if Bruce Gyngell was the author of them. I'm not saying that I was solely responsible - I'm just saying that some recollections may vary."

In the hour-long documentary, friends and family of the presenter paid tribute to the TV star.

Speaking of her early career, Lorraine said: "The big boss pulled me into the office and I thought he was going to offer me a job.

"I remember him taking his glasses down and looking at me and said: 'You're never going to make it in television - not with that accent. You're going to have to get elocution lessons. It's not going to happen' - and I was crushed."

Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!

Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.

You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.

No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.

All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in!

If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'.

We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don’t like our community, you can check out any time you like.

To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.

If you’re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.

However, Lorraine was dead-set on making it in the industry, explaining: "I found out there was a job going at TV-am. I picked up the phone. I asked to be put through to the big boss.

"He said 'Oh yeah. Come down, come down for an audition.’ So I went down, did the audition and as the boss was Australian he didn't hear a working class Glasgow accent.

“He just heard a Scottish accent and gave me the job which was amazing because you didn't have people sounding like me on the telly at that time."

Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletterhere.

Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.