A recent episode of Good Morning Britain revealed a disappointing economic report, showing a 0.1% contraction in January, as concerns grow ahead of the Chancellor’s spring statement.
During a recent episode of Good Morning Britain, breaking news regarding the UK economy was unveiled, capturing the attention of viewers with critical economic data. Presented on Friday, March 14, by hosts Kate Garraway and Rob Rinder, the live broadcast was unexpectedly interrupted by co-host Charlotte Hawkins, who reported a notable downturn in the nation’s economic performance.
Speaking directly to the audience, Hawkins announced, “Good morning and breaking news. In just the last few moments official figures that have just been released show the UK economy shrank by 0.1% in January, that is according to the Office for National Statistics (ONS).” This announcement revealed that the contraction was predominantly influenced by a slowdown in the manufacturing sector. The latest figures present a stark contrast to the previous month of December, during which the economy saw a rise of 0.4%.
The ONS’s findings have sparked concerns, particularly ahead of Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s upcoming spring statement, as the figures were below expert predictions. Most economists had anticipated a modest growth of 0.1% for January.
In a separate segment earlier in the week, the show featured a lighter topic that transitioned into serious discussions later. On Thursday, March 13, Garraway and her co-host Ed Balls engaged in a lively discussion about peculiar incidents in Hertfordshire, where a hawk was reportedly targeting tall men. As they explored the unusual phenomena, Garraway appeared to be thoroughly engrossed, stating: “The producers are saying to ‘move on’ but I’d be quite happy to talk about this all morning, I’m fascinated here!”
Ed Balls added to the levity with a quip, suggesting, “Or… if we wait long enough, the hawk will appear!” This hawk has become a local focal point in Flamstead, Hertfordshire, involved in nearly 20 reported incidents of swooping down on tall gentlemen.
Good Morning Britain, which airs weekdays from 6am on ITV and ITVX, successfully balances serious news and quirky human interest stories, reflecting the range of topics that engage its audience.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.itv.com/news/2025-03-14/uk-economy-shrunk-unexpectedly-by-01-in-january – This URL supports the claim about the UK economy shrinking by 0.1% in January, as reported by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), and highlights the impact of a slowdown in the manufacturing sector.
- https://www.fxempire.com/news/article/u-k-gdp-drops-0-1-in-january-missing-estimates-and-raising-recession-fears-1504285 – This URL corroborates the economic data showing a 0.1% contraction in the UK’s GDP for January, which fell short of economists’ expectations and raised recession fears.
- https://www.itv.com/news/ – This URL is the main news page for ITV, which airs Good Morning Britain, providing a platform for the show to cover both serious economic news and lighter human interest stories.
- https://www.noahwire.com – This URL is mentioned as the source for the article, though it does not directly provide information on the specific claims made about Good Morning Britain or the UK economy.
- https://www.itv.com/shows/good-morning-britain – This URL provides information about Good Morning Britain, including its airing schedule and the types of topics it covers, which supports the claim about the show’s ability to balance serious news with quirky stories.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative references recent economic data and a live broadcast on March 14, indicating it is likely current. However, without further context or a specific press release, it’s difficult to confirm if the content is entirely new or if similar information has been reported elsewhere.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
The quotes from Charlotte Hawkins and Kate Garraway appear to be original to this context, but without specific online sources, it’s challenging to verify if they have been used previously. Ed Balls’s quip seems unique to this scenario.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from the Bristol Post, which is a reputable local news source. However, the reliability could be further enhanced if it were from a national news outlet like the BBC or Financial Times.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The economic figures and the hawk incident in Hertfordshire are plausible, given the context of current events and local news. However, without direct evidence or further details, some aspects remain unverified.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be current and based on recent events, with quotes that seem original to the context. The source is generally reliable, and the claims are plausible. However, some aspects could benefit from additional verification.
