It’s the daytime TV show about female camaraderie that has instead been plagued by bitching, toxicity and the most vicious in-fighting.
Relations between the regulars on ITV’s Loose Women were once said to have soured so spectacularly that they and their agents thought nothing of routinely tipping off the tabloids with unflattering stories about their fellow panellists.
Some might argue it was only to be expected on a show where famous women – some with huge egos – clamour for airtime in its hour-long weekday lunchtime slot.
But after it won a prestigious Royal Television Society gong last month for best daytime show, ITV bosses ensured a charm offensive followed.
One paper ran a glowing story about the ‘incredible transformation’ the show had undergone, under the headline ‘Truce Women’.
The claims were that it had got rid of the toxic culture – and sections of the media seemed determined to have readers believe the panel had all become best of friends.
But sources close to the show insist it is a very thin veneer – as one said, it’s all ‘puff’.
Far from getting rid of the sniping and bust-ups, it is still awash with in-fighting more than 25 years after its launch.
One panellist at the centre of recent sniping is Olivia Attwood, who found fame on Love Island and I’m A Celeb and who, at 33, is several decades younger than some of her co-stars
Admittedly, some of its more outspoken stars, such as Carol McGiffin, have left, while others such as Saira Khan and Andrea McLean quit, insisting the nasty atmosphere was too much to bear.
But that has failed to end the bitching behind the scenes at the programme’s headquarters in White City, west London.
One source tells me: ‘The show is trailblazing and award-winning but there is still an awful lot of bitching. The narrative being spun is that there is nothing to see here – but that is far from the truth.’
One panellist at the centre of recent sniping is Olivia Attwood, who found fame on Love Island and I’m A Celeb and who, at 33, is several decades younger than some of her co-stars. So what could her crime possibly be?
‘She has her own “glam squad” who come in and get her ready for the show,’ says my Loose Women snitch.
Her team includes Mikey Phillips, make-up artist to the stars, and hairdresser Mikey Dash, who describes himself on Instagram as ‘hair twirler extraordinaire’.
The source adds: ‘That isn’t the done thing. ITV have their own brilliant people who get the women ready, so it is an issue that is much-discussed by some panellists. They say they haven’t seen anything like it before.
Linda Robson and Brenda Edwards (right) fell out over an £80 bottle of Malbec at last year’s National Television Awards, and they no longer socialise
‘There has been lots of talking behind her back. It all feels a bit mean. Surely Olivia can do what she likes? The others are baffled by it, maybe a bit jealous. It has been the subject of sniping.’
While Olivia has only recently joined the panel, the show’s veteran Coleen Nolan, 60, is one of its longest-serving stars – bar time out she took in 2012 because the bitching got too much.
She was said to have been ‘baffled’ and ‘bewildered’ when none of the Loose Women – even Brenda Edwards and Ruth Langsford, who she is particularly close to – attended the funeral of her sister Linda, another show regular, who died of cancer earlier this year.
A pal of Coleen’s tells me: ‘Eyebrows were raised and there was much discussion about it on the day and afterwards. Coleen has so many good friends on the show, you would have thought a few of them would be there. Especially as they are now claiming they are all one big happy family.’
Coleen Nolan was said to have been ‘baffled’ and ‘bewildered’ when none of the Loose Women – even Brenda Edwards and Ruth Langsford, who she is particularly close to – attended the funeral of her sister Linda (inset), another show regular, who died of cancer earlier this year
Today’s line-up includes presenter Christine Lampard, who is said to be loved by her co-stars. She is joined by former The Saturdays singer Frankie Bridge, newsreader Charlene White and comedian Judi Love.
Some of the original panellists are still regulars, including journalist Jane Moore, actress Nadia Sawalha, ex-Coronation Street star Denise Welch and TV host Kaye Adams.
Then there is outspoken Birds Of A Feather star Linda Robson, 67, who was at the centre of a row over an £80 bottle of Malbec at last year’s National Television Awards. Janet Street Porter, 78, bought the bottle to celebrate their wins but Linda shared it round more widely, prompting actress Brenda, 56, to intervene and tell her off.
Other rifts have proved enduring. Coleen and Nadia have been at war for years and are never on the same panel. While Coleen does the early part of the week, Nadia does the end, thanks to a spat in 2020 which resulted in Coleen’s former manager Melanie Blake calling Nadia a ‘total witch’ and ‘nasty’.
But ITV still insists it chooses the line-ups for each show, suggesting the estrangement of the women is not the panellists’ doing.
Then Jane and Janet left the show in chaos last year after refusing to appear because of a row with ITV over their tax status. They said they had been ordered to sign contracts saying they were permanent ITV employees, not freelance journalists.
A source said: ‘Jane and Janet were furious. They’ve done such a lot for that show and love it.’ The two women work across different companies and ‘as journalists, value their independent status’.
Nadia Sawalha and Coleen Nolan have been at war for years and are never on the same panel. There was a spat in 2020 in which resulted in Coleen’s former manager Melanie Blake calling Nadia a ‘total witch’ and ‘nasty’
Both women have since returned to the show, though Jane has reduced her appearances.
On one show in 2023, Janet revealed a rift with Denise. She said the actress, 66, was talking to her and ‘she never used to’, to which Denise cryptically replied: ‘There’s a reason for that.’
Janet caused controversy in 2015 when she compared a photo of Prince George to a ‘cross-dressing millionaire’.
Carol, who was a regular until 2023, also fought with co-host Andrea over not being invited to her wedding.
Other dramas include singer Jamelia being apparently dropped in 2017 after she argued plus-size fashion ‘facilitated people living an unhealthy lifestyle’ and criticised women who choose to become mothers later in life.
A source said: ‘Some of these women have long histories together. They’re certainly are not The Waltons – and never will be.’
