Genre Panel show Country of origin United Kingdom | Created by Diane Nelmes No. of series 21 | |
Presented by Ruth LangsfordAndrea McLeanChristine Lampard Starring Kaye AdamsJane MooreNadia SawalhaColeen NolanJanet Street-PorterLinda RobsonGloria HunnifordPenny LancasterSaira KhanKatie PriceAyda FieldMartine McCutcheonStacey SolomonLisa RileyAnne Diamond | ||
Loose Women is a British panel show that has been broadcast on ITV since 6 September 1999. The programme was originally broadcast from Norwich before moving to London and focuses on a panel of four female presenters, who interview celebrities, discuss their lives and discuss topical issues, ranging from daily politics and current affairs, to celebrity gossip.
Contents
- Presenters
- Series 13
- Series 410
- Series 1117
- Series 18
- Series 19
- September 2015
- January 2016
- Series 21
- Loose Books
- Related programming
- Loose 530
- Live Talk
- International variations
- Merchandise
- References
The programme has been simulcast in the Republic of Ireland on UTV Ireland, now known as be3, since January 2015. Its 2500th episode was broadcast on 29 April 2016.
Presenters
See List of Loose Women episodes for presenters per episode.
The panel comprises four women from various professions in the entertainment and journalism industries.
Carol McGiffin holds the record for the most appearances; she appeared in 1172 episodes between 2003 and 2013, followed by Coleen Nolan, Andrea McLean, Sherrie Hewson, Jane McDonald, Kaye Adams and Denise Welch respectively.
Series 1–3
Adams and Nadia Sawalha were the original presenters on the show. Sawalha left in 2002, after the birth of her first child; Adams kept the role for the first ten series until the end of 2006, when she left to go on maternity leave.
Adams, Sawalha, Jane Moore and Karren Brady were the panellists who appeared in the very first episode and Ruth Langsford appeared in the second episode.
Series 4–10
Denise Welch, Gloria Hunniford and Linda Robson first appeared as guest panellists during the third, fourth and fifth series respectively before later becoming regular panellists. McGiffin and Hewson, currently the longest serving panellist, began their stints as regular panellists at the start of the fourth series, whilst Nolan had a brief stint in the second series before returning regularly from the sixth series.
Series 11–17
From 2007 to 2009, the presenter job was mainly shared by McLean and Jackie Brambles. Following Brambles' departure in August 2009, Kate Thornton took over from her during the following month and continued to present the show in rotation with McLean until August 2011. Jane Mcdonald also took a 16-month hiatus to focus of her music, returning in 2012. On December 14, Mcdonald announced her return live on air with a surprise phone call. Following a relaunch in September 2011, the role of presenter was shared between McLean and Carol Vorderman, replacing Thornton, coinciding with the departures of Nolan, Zoe Tyler and Lynda Bellingham. Mcdonald returned on January 16, 2012. Linda Robson was introduced as a regular panellist in 2013, after appearing several times previous as a guest stand in.
Series 18
Loose Women underwent a presenter revamp for its eighteenth series, following the departure of McGiffin at the end of series 17. Long-running panellists Welch, McDonald and Lisa Maxwell also departed from the programme in October 2013, December 2013 and March 2014 respectively.
Many former presenters were reintroduced for the eighteenth series of the programme. Nolan, Sawalha and Moore returned as panellists during October 2013, whilst Adams returned as presenter in November. Later, Langsford rejoined the programme as a presenter in January 2014.
Jamelia and Myleene Klass joined the programme as panellists in November 2013 and January 2014 respectively.
Series 19
The panel underwent a further presenter revamp for its nineteenth series following the departures of Vorderman, Sally Lindsay and Shobna Gulati. Klass and Claire Richards, who had been panellists for series 18, also did not return. Gloria Hunniford, Penny Lancaster and Judy Finnigan were announced as new panellists. June Sarpong later joined the show on 23 March 2015. The series also featured a total revamp in the style of the show, with the logo, set and theme tune changed dramatically, and the panellists walking out to their respective seats at the start, behind a smaller desk, closer to the audience.
In this series a book club, Loose Books, was introduced; a panellist picks a book which the audience and the other panellists read. The first was chosen by Nolan called 'The Girl On The Train' by Paula Hawkins which as a result went to number 1.
September 2015
Judy Finnigan and Linda Lusardi, having featured prominently throughout series 19, did not return to the panel, though their departures were not officially announced. Businesswomen Hilary Devey and Saira Khan were announced as panellists, while former EastEnders actress Anita Dobson temporarily joined the regular panellists as cover for Jamelia, whose absence was due to her participation in Strictly Come Dancing. September also marked the introduction of Kaye Adams as a regular panellist (as opposed to a regular presenter), through she made guest appearances as a presenter.
January 2016
From January 2016, Katie Price and Vicky Pattison joined the cast as regular panellists, whilst Devey did not return after the Christmas break.
There was no summer break this series. Therefore, guest panellists featured heavily, notably Ayda Field, Nadiya Hussain, Martine McCutcheon, Lisa Riley and Stacey Solomon.
On 22 June 2016, Sir Cliff Richard sat down for a one-on-one interview with close friend Gloria Hunniford for a special edition of Loose Women subtitled Sir Cliff: Out of the Shadows.
On 3 August 2016, Sherrie Hewson announced on-air that she is leaving the show, and that her final episode will air 5 September 2016.
Series 21
Series 21 began airing on ITV on Monday 5 September 2016 – with a farewell party for Sherrie Hewson. Ayda Field, Martine McCutcheon, Lisa Riley, Stacey Solomon and Anne Diamond began appearing as regular panellists. Jamelia and Vicky Pattison didn't return for Series 21. Coleen Nolan Made her 1000th appearance on the panel on 5 December 2016. June Sarpong did not return to the show, following the Christmas/New Year break. Nadia Sawalha is currently the most recurring panelist this series. Christine Lampard began serving as a presenter in January 2017 after previously guest presenting a few episodes in December 2016.
Loose Books
From March 2015 Loose Books was launched. Similar to Richard and Judy's Book Club. The idea is that a panellist picks a book which the audience and the other panellists read. The first was chosen by Coleen Nolan called 'The Girl On The Train' by Paula Hawkins which as a result went to number 1. As of 2016, Loose Books is no longer a feature on the show.
Related programming
On 19 November 2010, as part of Children in Need 2010, Andrea McLean, Sherrie Hewson, Carol McGiffin, Zoe Tyler and Denise Welch performed Girls Aloud's song "The Promise" as Nanas Aloud.
Loose @ 5.30
Loose @ 5.30 aired at 5.30pm on ITV for two weeks from 29 May 2006. This teatime spin-off of Loose Women was a slight twist on the original format; the panel was composed of both men and women for the first time. The programme was co-presented by Kaye Adams and Ted Robbins. Panellists from Loose Women included Adams, Hewson, McGiffin, Welch, Jane McDonald and Coleen Nolan. They were joined by male panellists Jason Gardiner and Jeff Brazier.
Live Talk
Live Talk was a re-branding of Loose Women. The programme lasted for two series, the first in 2000 and the second in 2001, and was co-presented by Adams and Sawalha. Panellists from Loose Women included Adams, Sawalha, Nolan, Karren Brady and Pattie Coldwell. They were joined by new regular panellists McGiffin, Anne Diamond, Emily Symons, Jenny Powell, Jenni Trent Hughes, Denise Black, Kathryn Apanowicz, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Kim Hughes. Guest panellists included Welch (2001), Lorraine Kelly (2000), Jenni Murray (2000), Tracy Shaw (2000), Sally Gunnell (2001), Julie Peasgood (2001), Kate Garraway (2001), Lauren Booth (2001), Heather Mills (2001) and Sheila Hancock (2001).
International variations
Merchandise
In late 2008, ITV released Let Loose: The Very Best Of Loose Women, a DVD featuring highlights of Series 12 and 13. The DVD is introduced by Brambles and Nolan, with McDonald and McGiffin giving an exclusive behind-the-scenes tour of the set at The London Studios. A second DVD was released in November 2009, entitled Late Night with the Loose Women. The extended programme features McLean, Hewson, McGiffin and McDonald discussing raunchier topics than the television timeslot permits, and includes appearances by guests Will Mellor, Rustie Lee and Christopher Biggins. A 2010 DVD release saw McGiffin, Hewson, Maxwell and Welch visit New York, titled Loose Women in New York: Let Loose in the City. The DVD was released on 8 November 2010. A further DVD titled "Christmas With The Loose Women" was issued in 2012, presented by McLean, McGiffin, Welch and Maxwell. With behind the scenes footage.
A range of books have also been published under the brand which has expanded further with an online shop selling make-up products, champagne, personalised cups and stationery.