BREAKING NEWS: Loose Women has just signed its own de@th warrant – there’s no coming back
The ITV daytime show has faced some major changes this year.
Loose Women has officially signed their de@th warrant (Image: Ken McKay/ITV/Shutterstock)
I’ve been a big fan of daytime TV for as long as I can remember, with Loose Women being a regular haunt on my screen most afternoons. It was the go-to show to tune into when nursing a cold with a bowl of soup and the perfect lunchtime chat show to watch on your work break. But there has been a noticeable shift in the show’s quality in recent years, and this latest move has ultimately signed its de@th warrant.
On Thursday (August 13), long-standing panellist Denise Welch announced that she is leaving the show after 25 years on the show. The former Coronation Street star took to Instagram to share the surprising news online, explaining that she wants to focus on her acting career.
Denise Welch announced she’s leaving Loose Women this week (Image: Instagram)
She told fans: “I am leaving Loose Women after the best part of 25 years off and on. This show has been part of mine and my family’s life for almost a quarter of a century. I have the most wonderful, wonderful memories.
“So I just wanted to say that in person to thank all of the people who have shared my stories with me. ” It is not yet known when her official leaving date will be, but the TV star has already been cast for three upcoming projects yet to hit screens.
She is just the latest in a string of exits the show has seen in recent months, which is a clear alarm bell that things might be falling apart backstage. Most recently, Nadia Sawalha claimed she was “dropped” from the show, with her last appearance on the mid-afternoon programme airing back in April.
Earlier this month, she announced that she had been removed from the show due to her vocal support for Palestine. The former EastEnders star, 61, alleged that she was temporarily axed from the programme in July 2026 and accused ITV of “forever changing the goalposts” regarding her return.
She has now threatened legal action against the corporation and has launched a petition demanding a public apology from ITV and her reinstatement. And she’s not the only one who has spoken out about unfair treatment from the broadcaster this summer.
Following her exit, yet another familiar face came out of the woodwork to share their unfortunate experience with ITV bosses. Saira Khan starred on the show for five years, debating alongside the likes of Ruth Langsford, Coleen Nolan and Kay Adams before making the tough decision to leave in 2020.
Last month, she announced that the reason she left was that she realised she had been treated “unfairly” during the height of her fame.” She explained: “No matter what you give to the media, you don’t get the thanks back, there’s no loyalty, and you can be dropped.
“I saw people giving less but getting more. My kids said, ‘You’re not being treated fairly, mum’.” With so many cast exits, you’re left wondering what it’s really like to work for the company.
The show is nothing without its diverse and loveable presenters, who are dropping like flies this year. But the cracks started to show months earlier, when ITV appeared to have no faith in the programme by announcing major cuts.
The company announced at the beginning of the year that it would reduce Loose Women’s broadcast schedule from 52 weeks to 30. Executives also removed one of the show’s fundamental draws when they downsized to a new studio, bidding farewell to its live studio audience.
They added character to the show and provided much-needed live feedback to producers on what works and what doesn’t. It also gave loyal viewers a personal experience: sitting in the audience and meeting the cast in person.
It was something no other daytime show could offer. By stripping that away, it really shows that ITV don’t care about losing that connection with their viewers and simply wants to make money. Fans deserve a well-crafted show that everyone is proud to be a part of.
But in the past 12 months, it has been falling apart in front of our eyes, and there’s simply no going back. Personally, I think it’s time to put the show to rest. Maybe it can be shelved for a few years until ITV have the budget to properly invest in the show and support their cast members both on and off screen.
But without those two fundamental aspects working in unison, ITV is doing a disservice to the show and its viewers, and we deserve better.
