Veteran comedian Jenny Éclair has made a startling confession about her long-standing relationship with ITV's daytime talk show Loose Women, revealing she's been brutally snubbed not once, but twice for a permanent position on the panel.
Fifteen Years of Temporary Work
Despite being a regular guest presenter on the popular programme for over a decade and a half, Éclair disclosed that producers have repeatedly passed her over when it comes to securing a coveted permanent seat.
"I've asked twice to be a permanent panellist and been told 'no' twice," the 64-year-old comic revealed during an appearance on the How To Be 60 podcast with Kaye Adams.
The Painful Rejection
Éclair didn't mince words when describing the rejection, calling it "a bit brutal" and admitting the experience left her feeling undervalued. "It's a bit brutal, isn't it?" she remarked, highlighting the awkwardness of continuing to appear on the show after such direct rejections.
The comedian, who won the prestigious Perrier Comedy Award back in 1995, expressed her frustration at being kept in what she describes as a "holding pattern" - regularly appearing but never being offered the security of a permanent role.
A Crowded Panel
Part of the challenge, according to Éclair, is the sheer number of women vying for limited spots. "There's a lot of us, a lot of women," she noted, acknowledging the competitive nature of daytime television.
Despite the rejections, Éclair continues to make occasional appearances on the show, though she admits the dynamic has changed since the double rejection. Her candid revelation provides a rare glimpse behind the scenes of one of Britain's most enduring daytime programmes.
Moving Forward
While the snub clearly stung, Éclair maintains her characteristic humour about the situation, even as she continues to navigate the unpredictable world of television presenting in her sixties.
