Nadia Sawalha has vowed to explain why she has not appeared on Loose Women since April, teasing an 'unbelievable' story in a cryptic social media post.
Cryptic Instagram post
The former EastEnders star, 61, shared a video on Instagram showing her ITV lanyard with her name and face on it, captioned: "'Why haven’t I seen you on Loose Women for ages?' Can anyone guess? Will tell you if you guessed right on Wednesday here 6pm."
When a fan asked if she would not be asked back, she replied: "I will be telling the whole story. It’s pretty unbelievable." Her husband, Mark Adderley, simply commented: "Hmm..."
Background and speculation
Sawalha, an original panellist from the first episode in 1999, returned in 2013 and has been a regular alongside Coleen Nolan, Kaye Adams, and Olivia Attwood. She has been absent since late April, with the show currently off air for summer.
Reports earlier this year suggested she was dropped over "unhinged" videos on Coffee Moaning, her YouTube channel with Adderley, who was suspended by the Green Party over posts comparing Israel to Nazi Germany. Sawalha accused "dark forces" of smearing him, saying: "We've been punished all along right from when we first started talking about Palestine."
ITV's response
ITV denied suspension claims, but insiders said both parties "needed some space." A source told the Daily Mail: "We love Nadia, she's a great Loose Woman. There has been a lot going on so Loose Women is having some space from her for some calm."
Sawalha previously dismissed suspension rumours on Instagram, saying: "I have not been suspended from Loose Women." She also expressed sadness over the show's changes, including reduced episodes and no live audience, saying: "The audience has always been the fifth Loose Women, it's going to be very strange, it's sad, but it's the sign of the times."
