One of Loose Women’s longest-serving regulars has announced her departure from the daytime talk show. Denise Welch, who has been part of it for the “best part of 25 years, off and on”, revealed the news in an Instagram post tonight (13 August).
In recent years she’s seen her acting career kick up a notch, with roles in new hit dramas like Tip Toe as well as a warmly-received return to Waterloo Road. It seems that’s why she’s decided to step away from punditry.
“I’ve just come on to say something because it’s going to be in the papers,” she said in a video post. “I’m leaving Loose Women after [the] best part of 25 years, off and on. I did leave for about seven years and went back in 2018, and this show has been part of mine and my family’s life for nearly a quarter of a century.”
ITV
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She explained: “I have the most wonderful memories. It’s just that acting has always been my first love, and I think the thing I’m best at. At the moment, I’m having the most wonderful opportunities coming my way and I’m grabbing them by the you-know-whats and running with it for this new chapter of my life.
“So I just wanted to say that in person, to thank all of the people who have shared their stories with me. I’ve shared my life with you, the good, the bad and the ugly. I’m very Marmite, but I cherish all the comments, good or bad that I’ve had over the years. And I just hope you wish me well for this new exciting chapter in my life.”
Shooting down any notion of a rift between cast members, she added: “I’ll miss everybody but I will remain friends with the whole gang, because despite what you might read, we are a happy band of campers. Anyway, lots of love, thanks for sticking with me.”
Co-star Brenda Edwards wrote in the comments: “Gonna miss all the laughs babe, you gotta do what you gotta do and I know it would have not been an easy decision. But we will most certainly keep in touch love you and see you soon.”
Channel 5
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Since mid-July, Loose Women has been on a summer hiatus, and will be back on the ITV daytime schedules in September.
It hasn’t been far from headlines in recent weeks, though, with Nadia Sawalha confirming she is taking legal action against ITV. Dame Kelly Holmes, who has appeared alongside her as a panelist, expressed support.
Loose Women returns to ITV and ITVX in September.
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Shaun is an Evening News Editor at Digital Spy, with over a decade of experience reporting on all things pop culture. He has written for outlets including Metro, Attitude, Huffington Post, The Mirror, Yahoo!, Pink News and Express Online, specialising in TV, movies, soaps, music and LGBTQ+ issues. He is also a BAFTA Rocliffe-winning scriptwriter, having written episodes of the soap Hollyoaks, the official Steps musical Here & Now and multiple Offie Award-nominated plays. He studied English Literature and Drama at the University of East Anglia, and will happily talk at length about Desperate Housewives to anyone who’ll listen.