ITV's long-running daytime panel show Loose Women has sparked outrage among its loyal viewers after broadcasting what many are calling a 'self-indulgent' and 'narcissistic' musical special.
From Debate to Diatribe: The Show That Stopped Talking
In a dramatic departure from its usual format of discussing current affairs and personal stories, Wednesday's episode saw the regular panellists break into a series of original musical numbers. The performance included a tribute to the show itself, leaving many viewers baffled and reaching for the remote.
Social media erupted with criticism moments after the episode began airing. One frustrated viewer tweeted: 'What on earth is this? Turned over to Loose Women for some light discussion and found a musical extravaganza about how great they are. The narcissism is astounding!'
Viewer Backlash Reaches Fever Pitch
The unusual episode featured regular hosts including Coleen Nolan and Christine Lampard performing specially written songs that celebrated the programme's 25-year history. However, the self-congratulatory tone appears to have backfired spectacularly.
Another disgruntled viewer commented: 'This is peak television vanity. They've literally written songs about how wonderful their show is. Who thought this was a good idea?'
Production Decision Questioned
While musical episodes have become occasional features in drama series, the format appears particularly ill-suited to a topical discussion programme. The episode replaced the show's usual debate segments with musical performances, leaving many regular viewers feeling short-changed.
The timing couldn't be worse for ITV, coming during a period when daytime television faces increasing competition from streaming services and digital content. Many are questioning whether such gimmicks risk alienating the core audience that has sustained the programme for decades.
As one long-time viewer put it: 'I've watched Loose Women for years for the conversation and debate. Today's musical vanity project completely missed what makes the show worthwhile. Hopefully they'll get back to proper discussion tomorrow.'
