Nadia Sawalha has revealed she is taking legal action against ITV, alleging she was treated unlawfully due to her 'protected beliefs'. The broadcaster and actress, 61, made her first Loose Women appearance in 1999 and was a regular until 2002. After returning in 2013, she regularly appeared on the ITV talk show, but has not featured since April this year.
Legal action announced
In an Instagram video, Sawalha said: 'My legal team at ELSC has today written to ITV alleging that I have been treated unlawfully due to my protected beliefs.' She claimed that after she began speaking publicly in support of Palestine in December 2023, she 'became the target of an escalating campaign of smears, complaints, hostile media coverage and targeted calls to have me removed from Loose Women'.
'Since then ITV has taken me on and off Loose Women a number of times,' she continued. 'I've mostly been told that the reason for this, and I quote, "it's all a bit noisy out there for us".'
Wider impact
Sawalha stressed she is not alone, saying: 'I want to make it clear that this is not just me that's been targeted like this for my beliefs. There are the teachers, doctors, nurses, charity and supermarket workers and students who have also spoken according to their conscience and have suffered a similar fate as me.'
'Well enough is enough. We need to send a clear message to ITV and other groups and corporations that we won't be scared into silence. No one should be bullied out of their job for following their consience and speaking out against brutal oppression.'
Petition launched
Alongside the legal action, Sawalha shared a petition calling on ITV to publicly apologise and reinstate her if she wishes to return to Loose Women. The petition states: 'Instead of standing by Nadia, ITV has continued to keep her off Loose Women, with no indication of when, or if, she will return.'
'Nadia has spent more than two decades doing exactly what Loose Women celebrates: speaking openly, honestly and fearlessly. No one should be punished or treated unfairly at work for expressing sincerely held beliefs or speaking out against injustice.'
'Nadia is now fighting back. With the support of the European Legal Support Centre (ELSC), she has begun legal action against ITV, alleging discrimination because of her protected beliefs. This petition stands with Nadia and sends a clear message to ITV: no one should face bullying at work for being anti-genocide.'
Metro has contacted ITV for comment.
