Loose Women

History

The panel comprises four women from the entertainment and journalism industries, who interview celebrities, discuss their lives and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip.

ITV decided to scrap the original format of Loose Women and instead opted for a more condensed version of the show under the name Live Talk. This new version was filmed in Manchester instead of London and the show kept its old roots. The rebranding made its debut on 25 September 2000 and ran for 121 episodes. On 8 June 2001, Live Talk aired for the last time until 2 September 2002 when the Live Talk format and branding was scrapped and renamed Loose Women again.

On 22 June 2016, Sir Cliff Richard sat down for a one-on-one interview with close friend Gloria Hunniford for a special edition of Loose Women subtitled Sir Cliff: Out of the Shadows.

On 22 March 2020, production on Loose Women was suspended until further notice because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Reruns of old episodes were aired in the programme's time slot. Loose Women recommenced production on two live episodes per week starting on 4 May 2020.

On 22 October 2020, Loose Women had an all black panel for the first time in the show's history, featuring Charlene White, Brenda Edwards, Judi Love and Kéllé Bryan. This panel has been seen several times since then.

On 19 November 2020, there was an all male panel for the first time in the show's history, to celebrate International Men's Day, altering the show's name to Loose Men for the day. Panellists were Marvin Humes, Iain Stirling, Ronan Keating and Roman Kemp. Since then, there have been several episodes of Loose Men featuring the likes of Vernon Kay, Richard Madeley, Johannes Radebe, Mike Tindall and Ore Oduba.

The live studio audience returned in early September 2022, having been suspended for over two years because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The audience returned on 5 September, and new opening titles were also introduced in the same episode.

Loose Women went on a live tour in September 2023.

On 6 September 2024, Loose Women launched the start of the show's Silver September Month and celebrated its 25th anniversary the same day, with panellists Kaye Adams, Linda Robson, Judi Love and Nadia Sawalha; original panellist Jane Moore joined the show from her holidays in Spain. The special guest was former panellist Jane McDonald.

Loose Women held a 25-hour "Talkathon" to mark the 25th Anniversary of the show - and as part of ITV and STV's "Britain Get Talking" campaign for mental health. The "Talkathon" aired from 5 to 6 December 2024, streaming live on ITVX - with the first and last hour of the event airing also on ITV1 and STV. The "Talkathon" raised money for the mental health charities Mind, YoungMinds and Scottish Action for Mental Health, so they are able to continue to run their helplines and services.

A Loose Women podcast launched on 4 March 2025, with the podcast airing every Tuesday and Friday.

ITV's major budget cuts to its daytime lineup included Loose Women being reverted to a 30-week school-term schedule beginning in January 2026. The show also ditched its studio audience for the same reason. Multistory Media also took over production of the series at the same time, following the merger of ITV Studios Daytime into the label. As part of the cost cutting measures 220 jobs were lost, with production moving from Television Centre to The H Club Studio in Covent Garden. The final broadcast from Television Centre was on 25 December 2025.

On 5 January 2026, Loose Women moved to The H Club Studio alongside its ITV Daytime counterparts. The programme relaunched with a new set, remixed theme tune, and updated titles and graphics. The programme no longer had a studio audience.

Presenters

Kaye Adams and Nadia Sawalha were the original presenters on the show. Sawalha left in 2002, after the birth of her first child; Adams kept the role for the first ten series until the end of 2006, when she left on maternity leave. Adams, Sawalha, Jane Moore and Karren Brady were panellists for the first episode, and Ruth Langsford appeared in the second episode.

Coleen Nolan made her debut appearance in 2000, followed by Carol McGiffin. Jackie Brambles became anchor in 2006, before being replaced by Kate Thornton in 2009. Thornton was axed in 2011, and was replaced by Carol Vorderman, who left in 2014.

The panel varied from 2003 to 2013, with the core panellists being Nolan, McGiffin, Denise Welch, Sherrie Hewson, Zoë Tyler, Jane McDonald, Lisa Maxwell and Lynda Bellingham. Kerry Katona, Claire Sweeney, Jenny Powell, Josie d'Arby, Kym Marsh, Nina Wadia, Terri Dwyer, Lesley Garrett, Gillian Taylforth, Sheree Murphy, Jo Bunting, Beverley Callard and Arlene Phillips also appeared.

Nolan left in 2011, and was replaced by Sally Lindsay. Other panellists during this time included Linda Robson, Jenny Eclair and Janet Street-Porter.

Long-running panellists Carol McGiffin, Denise Welch, Jane McDonald and Lisa Maxwell departed from the programme in 2013.

Nolan, Sawalha and Moore returned as panellists during 2013, whilst Adams returned as presenter. Langsford also rejoined the programme as a presenter in 2014.

Hewson left the show, with her final episode airing on 5 September 2016.

Welch and McGiffin returned to the show after five years away, on 7 June 2018 and 5 July 2018, respectively.

On 9 May 2019, Kéllé Bryan became a panellist after appearing as a guest on 12 April 2019.

On 16 October 2019, Linda Robson returned to the show after a twelve-month break resulting from her OCD. She returned as a panellist on 17 January 2020, after appearing as a guest on 10 January.

In February 2019, Brenda Edwards was a panellist filling in for Robson. She then became a regular panelist in March that year. Robson returned in early 2020, and Edwards stayed on, making weekly appearances.

Andrea McLean left the show after 13 years to concentrate on her new venture, membership website This Girl Is On Fire. Her last show was on 16 December 2020. Charlene White became a regular anchor presenter on the show, replacing McLean after her exit from the show in December 2020.

Saira Khan left Loose Women after five years, making her final appearance on 15 December 2020. She was replaced by Frankie Bridge in 2021.

In July 2021, Sunetra Sarker and Katie Piper became regular panellists on the show. In September 2022, Dame Kelly Holmes joined the show as a regular panellist.

On 3 May 2023, Carol McGiffin was forced to leave the show because of a dispute within her contract. In August 2023, Olivia Attwood became a regular panellist. After making several guest appearances throughout 2023, Sue Cleaver became a regular panellist from 2024 onwards. Mariella Frostrup became a regular panellist in July 2024. GK Barry joined the show as a panellist in August 2024, making her the youngest ever panellist on the show, aged 25.

Current panel

Home media

Over the course of four years, several straight-to-DVD specials based on the series were released by ITV Studios Home Entertainment.

• Let Loose: The Very Best of Loose Women, was released in November 2008, and was a clip show that featured highlights of Series 12 and 13.
• Late Night with the Loose Women was released in November 2009, and featured a special extended "Late-Night" styled episode, featuring "raunchier" content than the main show could allow.
• Loose Women in New York: Let Loose in the City, was released on 8 November 2010. This special featured Carol McGiffin, Sherrie Hewson, Lisa Maxwell and Denise Welch going on a holiday to New York.
• Christmas with the Loose Women was released in November 2011. This was a special extended episode, presented by Andrea McLean, Carol McGiffin, Denise Welch and Lisa Maxwell.

Merchandise

A range of books have been published under the brand, which has expanded to an online shop selling make-up products, champagne, personalised cups and stationery.

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. Holmwood, Leigh. (3 October 2008). "Diane Nelmes joins Liberty Bell". [[The Guardian]].
2. link. (29 September 2010 , TV.com, 20 July 2011)
3. (15 May 2018). "Loose Women celebrates 3000 shows with the outrageous Loosie Awards!". [[itv.com]].
4. (22 June 2016). "Cliff Richard Speaks Out Over Rumours About His Sexuality".
5. (22 March 2020). "Loose Women and Lorraine live shows cancelled amid coronavirus pandemic as Good Morning Britain is extended". [[Metro (British newspaper).
6. Earp, Catherine. (28 April 2020). "Loose Women is returning to TV on Monday with some social distancing measures in place". [[Digital Spy]].
7. Houghton, Rianne. (22 October 2020). "Loose Women gets praised for all Black panel for the first time in 21 years". [[Digital Spy]].
8. Warner, Sam. (4 February 2021). "Loose Women praised by viewers for powerful discussion on mental health". [[Digital Spy]].
9. Warner, Sam. (2020-11-19). "Loose Women welcomes all-male panel for first time in show's history".
10. Rodger, James. (2022-08-03). "Loose Women announce change to shows from September".
11. "ITV.com".
12. "ITV.com".
13. "Podcastingtoday.co.uk".
14. Kanter, Jake. (2025-05-20). "ITV To Cut 220 Jobs In Major Daytime Overhaul".
15. https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/loose-women-live-studio-audience-itv-budget-cuts-b2764428.html#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThe%20panelists%20are%20really%20upset,viewers%20will%20switch%20off%20completely.%E2%80%9D
16. https://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/news/itv-daytime-chief-steps-up-as-broadcaster-announces-studios-daytime-merger-with-multistory-media
17. (2026-01-05). "ITV UNVEILS NEW DAYTIME STUDIOS AS PRODUCTION AND SCHEDULE CHANGES ARE IMPLEMENTED".
18. (4 August 2007). "LOOSE WOMAN: THE KAYE ADAMS COLUMN". [[Daily Record (Scotland).
19. Duncan, Amy. (6 October 2013). "'The bosses are choosing to turn back time and I would rather move forward': Denise Welch quits Loose Women after ten years". [[Metro (British newspaper).
20. Fletcher, Alex. (3 October 2013). "Coleen Nolan, Kaye Adams return to 'Loose Women'". ([[Hearst Magazines UK]]).
21. Tom Eames. (20 December 2013). "Loose Women adds Ruth Langsford to regular panel, Myleene Klass to guest". Digital Spy.
22. (3 August 2016). "Sherrie Hewson to leave Loose Women". [[BBC News Online.
23. Lee, Ben. (5 July 2018). "Carol McGiffin returns to Loose Women after 5 years and explains why she is back". [[Digital Spy]].
24. Seddon, Dan. (12 April 2019). "Hollyoaks' Kéllé Bryan opens up about racism in music industry: 'We were told black people don't sell magazines'". [[Digital Spy]].
25. West, Amy. (16 October 2019). "Loose Women confirms classic panellist is returning to the show". [[Digital Spy]].
26. Warner, Sam. (10 January 2020). "Loose Women's Linda Robson gets emotional as she reveals why she took a year-long break from the show". [[Digital Spy]].
27. Kent, Sara-Aisha. (2021-01-18). "Andrea McLean feared having to sell her mansion after quitting Loose Women".
28. Seddon, Dan. (2020-12-15). "Andrea McLean "dreading" her final Loose Women episode".
29. (11 January 2021). "Charlene White officially joins the Loose Women family". [[ITV News]].
30. Warner, Sam. (23 July 2021). "Loose Women announce two new panellists joining the show". [[Digital Spy]].
31. (7 September 2022). "Loose Women introduces Dancing on Ice star as new panellist".
32. (4 May 2023). "Loose Women's Carol McGiffin blasts "unjust and unworkable" contract that led to exit".
33. "Olivia Attwood gets Loose Women job after husband Bradley Dack's Sunderland move".
34. "Who is GK Barry? Meet the I'm a Celebrity 2024 contestant {{!}} Radio Times".
35. "Loose Women".
36. Rodger, James. (2022-09-06). "Loose Women sign up sports legend as new full-time panelist".
37. link. (27 March 2012 [[ITV (TV network)). ITV]], 20 July 2011
38. [https://www.theguardian.com/media/2007/sep/04/television Coronation Street leads ITV Victory] guardian.co.uk, 20 July 2011
39. (2011-03-14). "Programme Awards Winners 2008".
40. [http://www.itv.com/lifestyle/loosewomen//Galleries/TVQuickAwards/ TV Quick Awards] itv.com, 20 July 2011
41. [http://www.tric.org.uk/main/2009winners.html 2009 Winners] {{webarchive. link. (14 December 2013 tric.org.uk, 20 July 2011)
42. [https://archive.today/20130505101021/http://www.whatsontv.co.uk/reality/the-x-factor-2009/photos/1/14797/1%2310 All the 2009 winners] whatsontv.co.uk, 20 July 2011
43. Awards, National Television. "Winners {{!}} National Television Awards".
44. (2010-09-07). "TV Choice Awards 2010: Full list of winners".
45. [http://www.metro.co.uk/tv/841617-national-television-awards-2011-the-nominees National Television Awards Nominations in full] metro.co.uk, 20 July 2011
46. (2012-01-25). "National TV Awards 2012: The winners". BBC News.
47. National Television Awards. "Winners – National Television Awards". nationaltvawards.com.
48. (16 September 2017). "Loose Women wins Diversity Media Award – ITV plc".
49. National Television Awards. "Winners – National Television Awards". nationaltvawards.com.
50. Rajani, Deepika. (28 January 2020). "NTA nominations 2020: the full shortlist of National Television Awards nominees, and how to vote for the NTAs". [[i (British newspaper).
51. "Loose Women wins RTS Award 2021".
52. Craig, David. (17 August 2021). "National TV Awards 2021 Nominations". [[Radio Times]].