Denise Welch has quit Loose Women, it has been confirmed. The former Coronation Street star has stepped down from the lunchtime show to concentrate on her acting career following several new role opportunities.
Two decades on the panel
The programme launched in 1999, with mum-of-two Denise first appearing as a guest panellist in 2002 before becoming a permanent member of the team in 2005. Denise departed Loose Women in 2013 following an eight-year stint but made her comeback in 2018 and has been a frequent presence on the show since then.
A Loose Women spokesperson said: "Denise has been such a brilliant part of the Loose Women family and we are going to miss her hugely on the show. We are sending her all of our love and best wishes for her next chapter."
End of an era
An insider told The Sun: "It really is the end of an era. She is taking a massive leap of faith and going to focus solely on her acting which, really, has always been her first great love. Now is the time to pursue her dreams, although she will be devastated to wave goodbye to her Loose friends and colleagues. She will be sorely missed."
Throughout her two-decade tenure on the ITV daytime programme, Denise has opened up about numerous aspects of her private life, including her marriage breakdown, struggles with mental health and her previous lifestyle as a 'party animal' before becoming sober.
On-screen revelations
Denise has previously confessed she regularly landed herself in hot water during her initial stint on the programme but has become far more adept at 'self-editing' nowadays. Reflecting on her most regrettable comment, Denise revealed: "I once told people that my sister got off with the best man at my wedding and I remember running to my dressing room afterwards thinking 'S**t!' My phone was buzzing and it was my sister 'wanting a word.'"
Denise revealed her mum and sister were "always" ringing her immediately following her Loose Women slots "annoyed" about revelations she'd made.
Next steps
The announcement of Denise's exit follows her roles in Channel 4's Tip Top, Channel 5's Benidorm Is Murder, while she's scheduled to feature in the television adaptation of Graham Norton's novel Forever Home later this year.
Loose Women airs weekdays on ITV1 and ITVX at 12.30pm.
