Denise Welch announced on Thursday that she is leaving Loose Women after nearly 25 years, prompting some fans to speculate that the ITV panel show may be coming to an end.
The 68-year-old, a long-standing panellist, shared the news on Instagram: "I’m leaving Loose Women after the best part of 25 years, off and on. I did leave for about seven years and went back in 2018. This show has been part of mine, and my family’s life, for nearly a quarter of a century."
Fans React to Exit
The announcement comes weeks after fellow panellist Nadia Sawalha launched legal action against the show, saying: "I've been bullied out over Palestine beliefs." It also follows the show's move to a new London location without a studio audience.
On social media, fans shared their views. One commenter on X said: "No need for Loose Women or This Morning on @ITV any more. Ran out of steam along time ago, If they want to save money, put on a good film instead." On Instagram, one wrote: "Right time to leave...it's not fun to watch anymore and it feels like people are not allowed to have different opinions on the important things! Plus ITV deciding to get the rid of the audience is the beginning of the end. You were my favourite one!" Another added: "Good luck Denise for the future, i think they should take Loose women off, it’s had its day, not the same anymore, look forward to seeing you in other things xx"
Denise's Reasons and Co-Star Support
In her announcement, Denise shared a video explaining her decision to focus on acting: "I have the most wonderful, wonderful memories and it’s just that acting has always been my first love and, I think, the thing I’m best at." She added: "I just hope you wish me well for this new exciting chapter in my life. I’ll miss everybody but I will remain friends with the whole gang because, despite what you might read, we are a happy band of campers. Lots of love, thanks for sticking with me."
Former co-star Carol McGiffin said she "couldn't believe" Denise had stayed so long. In a newly released interview, Carol reflected on the show's changes: "I started in 2000, so I was there for 13 years, left for five, and then went back. And back in the day, I mean, it was, it was, it was absolutely brilliant." She added: "Even I still sit looking at YouTube at the old clips and just think, 'Wow, that show was brilliant.' It was hilarious. It was funny. Everybody got on. It was sassy. You know, it was it was completely different. Now it's just not like that, I got censored so many times. I can't tell you. Like we would sit in the meeting talking about what we were going to be talking about on the show, and I would say something, and they would just be like, 'No, you can't. You can't say that, you can't say that,' I'm like 'why not?'" She concluded: "So everybody kind of had to agree with each other and they still do it now and I'm pretty certain that there are people on that show who don't think like that but they do because they want to keep their job."
