Sherrie Hewson has criticised the decision to reduce the number of episodes of Loose Women from next year(Image: ITV)

A Loose Women panellist has criticised the decision to reduce the output of the long-running ITV show. It follows the news of several changes to the broadcaster’s daytime schedule from the start of next year.

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It was announced in May that from January the show will air for just 30 weeks of the year. It will continue to air for an hour between 12.30pm to 1.30pm but on a “seasonable basis”. ITV said that the changes to the schedule were in part to it “generating savings which will allow [it] to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres”.

Sherrie Hewson, 74, who was a panellist on Loose Women between 2003 and 2017, has now questioned the decision to reduce the number of episodes. She’s suggested that it is “cruel,” describing the show as a “lifeline” to some viewers.

Former Loose Women panelist Sherrie Hewson has criticised the decision to reduce the number of episodes of the ITV show from next year(Image: ITV)

She told the Sun: “For women of all ages, those up to 95 down to younger women at home with young children, it’s like therapy to them.” Sherrie added that it “feels cruel and sad” that the broadcaster is cutting episodes of Loose Women, which she said can “bring anger and emotions. “

The actor said that people need shows where they can “shout at the TV”. She then continued by telling the outlet: “Some people are lonely and it is a lifeline for them, the only discussion they may actually be part of during the day.”

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Sherrie said that TV should be “an aid to joy,” before adding that Loose Women gives people the opportunity to “join in”. She suggested that “a lot of people” will miss the show during the weeks that it won’t be on next year.

She said in the interview, published earlier this weekend: “I know that there are budget cuts, I know that they have constraints.” She, however, described it as “such a shame” that Loose Women and Lorraine are “being affected by this”.

It’s reported that Sherrie volunteers in nursing homes and told the outlet that Loose Women is “so important” to dementia patients living in the homes. She said that it “keeps them alive.” She added that they feel that they are “interacting” and that she watches with them.

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ITV announced upcoming changes to its daytime schedule in May. It was revealed that, from January next year, Good Morning Britain (GMB) will be extended by 30 minutes, with the show soon to be running from 6am to 9.30am daily.

Lorraine will be reduced by 30 minutes instead to run from 9.30am to 10am and will only air on a seasonal basis for 30 weeks of the year. During the weeks that it isn’t on, GMB will instead be broadcast from 6am to 10am.

This Morning will remain in its 10am to 12.30pm slot on weekdays throughout the year. Loose Women will stay in its 12.30pm to 1.30pm slot but will only air on a seasonal basis for 30 weeks of the years when the changes happen.

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It was also announced that GMB will be made by a dedicated team within ITV News at ITN at their base in London. Whilst Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women will continue to be produced by ITV Studios and will be broadcast from a new location in the city.

Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV’s Media and Entertainment Division, spoke about the changes in a statement at the time. He said: “Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust as well generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.”

He went on to say that the changes would allow for an expansion of news output. He said: “These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever.”

Kevin added: “I recognise that our plans will have an impact on staff off screen in our Daytime production teams, and we will work with ITV Studios and ITN as they manage these changes to produce the shows differently from next year, and support them through this transition. Daytime has been a core element of ITV’s schedule for over 40 years and these changes will set ITV up to continue to bring viewers award winning news, views and discussion as we enter our eighth decade.”