Andrea McLean has announced her departure from ITV's Loose Women after 13 years as a presenter. The 51-year-old told viewers on Monday's show that she would leave at Christmas, wiping away tears as she explained her decision.
McLean revealed that she had a nervous breakdown last year, which prompted her to reassess her life. 'What I felt is that this year, collectively, the world has had a breakdown,' she said. 'It made me stop and think, 'What do I actually want?' You get one life, are you living it the way that you want?'
She added that she wanted to focus on her website and brand, This Girl Is On Fire, which she co-founded. McLean joined Loose Women in 2007 and has authored three books, including Confessions of a Menopausal Woman.
In September, she spoke about the breakdown she experienced while filming Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins in 2019, saying that traumatic events she had 'put in a box' resurfaced during the show.
McLean's exit follows a shake-up at ITV's This Morning, with Dermot O'Leary and Alison Hammond replacing Eamonn Holmes and Ruth Langsford as Friday hosts from January 8. Holmes and Langsford will continue during holiday periods.
