ITV viewers received an unexpected schedule change this week as the popular daytime programme Loose Women was pulled from its usual Wednesday slot. The cancellation forms part of the channel's special coverage of Chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget announcement.
Budget Takes Priority Over Daytime Favourite
Long-serving panelist Ruth Langsford broke the news to audiences during Tuesday's broadcast, confirming the show would not air the following day. The 65-year-old presenter explained: 'That is it for today I am afraid. We are not on tomorrow because of the budget.'
While Loose Women has faced its own budget constraints in recent years - now broadcasting for just 30 weeks annually rather than 52 - Langsford's reference specifically concerned the government's financial plans. The cancellation allowed ITV to provide comprehensive coverage of Chancellor Reeves' 2026 budget statement.
Langsford reassured loyal viewers that normal service would resume promptly, confirming: 'The show would be back at its usual time of 12:30pm on Thursday.'
Personal Revelations Amid Schedule Changes
The schedule disruption comes during a period of significant personal change for Langsford, who recently addressed relationship rumours on the programme. She debunked speculation about a mystery man, revealing that circulating images were actually AI-generated.
'Apparently I have a new man,' Langsford told viewers. 'According to this article, that's all over Facebook and I've had friends ringing me up. Apparently I met this man when we were childhood sweethearts when I grew up in Belfast, which I didn't, and now it's come full circle after all these years and we are back together. Terrible, isn't it.'
The presenter confirmed she remains single, adding weight to recent discussions on the programme about relationship benefits. Just last week, fellow panelist Myleene Klass noted: 'It is a known fact that men live longer when they're married because they have wives, and women live longer when they aren't married shall we say... you do the maths!'
To which newly-single Ruth quipped: 'Good to know!'
AI Misinformation Plagues Loose Women Panel
Langsford's experience with fabricated imagery isn't isolated among the programme's presenters. Colleague Janet Street Porter recently expressed outrage after becoming victim to an AI death hoax.
'I was shocked. I was shocked,' Street Porter declared. 'First of all, I'm in the middle of a national tour and I'm NOT dead! So I want people to buy tickets for the whole right through until April...'
The panel discussed how fake AI images depicting Street Porter in a hospital bed had circulated on social media, falsely claiming she faced a serious health battle. One particularly disturbing caption read: 'She tried to stay strong... until her body said "no more".'
Street Porter condemned the hoax as 'disgusting' and criticised platforms for not removing the content promptly.
Loose Women continues to air weekdays from 12:30pm on ITV1 and remains available for streaming on ITVX, despite occasional schedule adjustments for major political events like budget announcements.
