Nadia Sawalha is taking legal action against ITV after claiming the broadcaster bullied her out of her job on Loose Women over her pro-Palestine views. The 61-year-old panellist announced the move at the Ethnicity Awards in London this week, telling the Mirror she has been targeted for speaking out for Palestinian rights.
Claims of bullying and removal
In a video, Sawalha said: “After I began speaking publicly in support of Palestine in December 2023, I became the target of an escalating campaign of smears, complaints, hostile media coverage and calls to have me removed from Loose Women.” She said she was removed from the series in July.
The controversy began in April when false claims were published alleging that Sawalha and her husband, Green Party member Mark Adderley, had shown “support for terrorism or hatred of Jews.” In July she received substantial libel damages.
ITV's response
ITV has previously declined to comment. However, an ITV source told The Mail the broadcaster was “not aware” of any court action, although it confirmed that it had received a legal letter. The source said: “She sent a legal letter to us and we have responded.”
Sawalha said she was told of a 20-page dossier of allegations made against her and that ITV told her they did not have the staff to review it. She said: “I haven’t been allowed to answer one single allegation because I don’t know what they are. I was in a state of shock and so upset. I begged them not to do this to me.”
Legal letter and next steps
In August, it emerged Sawalha’s lawyers wrote to ITV claiming: “Nadia was treated less favourably than other ITV presenters who faced significant public complaints.” The European Legal Support Centre (ELSC), representing Sawalha, refused to comment to the Mirror about which ITV stars they were referring to or if they have been named in the letter, but said the issue raised “serious concerns about equality in the workplace and the treatment of those who speak out for Palestinian rights”.
Sawalha joined Loose Women when it began in 1999, leaving in 2002 and returning in 2013. She claims she has been “phased out” of the current series without any explanation. At the Ethnicity Awards, she announced: “I’m officially not on Loose Women any more, as of four weeks ago. I’m taking ITV to court. It’s a mountain of tension.” The Mirror has contacted ITV and Sawalha for further comment.
