Saira Khan has opened up about her exit from Loose Women, revealing she was treated unfairly and received death threats during her time on the ITV chat show.
Hard Decision to Leave
The former Apprentice star, 56, joined the show in 2015 and spent five years debating live on air alongside Ruth Langsford, Coleen Nolan and Nadia Sawalha. She said: "When you're new, it's really hard because it's such a clique. You've got to prove yourself. But I aligned myself to Coleen and Ruth pretty quickly because I could relate to them. It was a hard decision to leave because I'd done it for a long time. No matter what you give to the media, you don't get the thanks back, there's no loyalty and you can be dropped. I saw people giving less but getting more. My kids said, 'You're not being treated fair, mum.'"
She added: "As a parent, I had to show that you don't stick around. It doesn't matter how good the job is. Financially, it was really hard to say goodbye to that."
Death Threats and Stereotyping
Khan claimed that because she was expected to discuss tough political subjects, she received death threats. She said: "The problem is, for someone like me, I then get stereotyped. 'Oh, we're talking about terrorism, bring Saira in, we're talking about grooming gangs, bring her in.' But I couldn't do any of the fun stuff. So if you keep bringing me out talking about that stuff, that is stereotyping.
"I'd run two marathons, I like to snowboard, I've travelled around the world. None of that was ever explored. So people thought I was gobby and opinionated and a one-trick pony." She added: "I got death threats. Honestly, my husband was really scared for me. I got quite a few death threats and I just said, 'Steve, if I get shot the head for something I believe in, that's my fate. I can't do anything about that.'"
Children's Career Choices
Khan, who is married to Steve Hyde and has Zac, 18, and Amara, 15, also co-hosted The Martin Lewis Money Show and took part in Dancing On Ice and Celebrity Big Brother. She now manages her skincare business and said she is thrilled her children do not want media careers. Speaking on the Nolans Uncensored podcast, she explained: "Both of my kids have no interest in the media and I think it's because of what they saw me go through. I'm really happy about that. The industry is changing, for me I've always seen it as a business and because it doesn't see itself as a business, it's not in such a great place right now."
Nadia Sawalha's Claims
Khan's comments come days after Nadia Sawalha spoke out about her absence from the show and threatened legal action, claiming ITV bullied her out of her job. The former EastEnders star, who has not appeared since April, believes she is being targeted for speaking out for Palestinian rights. She told The Mirror: "I accept that there is a huge risk I will never work in television again." She added: "I deleted it because I don't want these people to be phased out. I feel sad that there is an atmosphere of fear that if they were to be seen to be supporting me, their career could be at risk. I don't believe for one second the head of daytime wanted me off that show, I feel for her." The Mirror has contacted ITV for comment.
