By Samantha Masters
Copyright glasgowlive
Loose Women presenter Nadia Sawalha has expressed sadness and concern over significant changes coming to the ITV programme, amid budget cuts. From 2026, the daytime show will air for just 30 weeks annually and will no longer feature a live studio audience.
It has also emerged that Loose Women, alongside Lorraine and This Morning, will be moved from the ITV Studios to The H Club Studio, a former exclusive members’ club.
Speaking about the shake-up, Nadia disclosed that several of her behind-the-scenes colleagues have already faced redundancy ahead of the on-screen overhaul.
Reflecting on the changes, she added: “We’re all going to miss the audience terribly, but how it will affect the dynamic of the show, who knows?
“The audience has always been the fifth Loose Women, it’s going to be very strange, it’s sad, but it’s the sign of the times.”
The 60-year-old, who operates on a monthly contract alongside her co-presenters, continued: “I know I’m going to be there next week, but there’s not a single Loose Women that could say anything different.
“At this moment, all the on-screen talent is all right. I’m just really upset about my friends and colleagues – the crew – that were made redundant.
“I am worried, because we’re all worried all the time in this world that we live in,” she told Woman’s Weekly Magazine. “Everything is so precarious.”
Currently, no members of the Loose Women cast have been dismissed from their roles, and according to Janet Street-Porter, the “older” panellists have nothing to fear.
She told Bella Magazine: “There are no plans to get rid of the older women, despite of what some people have said!
“In fact, the reverse is true. ITV actually put out a statement saying we are the valued members of the show because the audience totally relate to us.”
As part of the ITV scheduling reshuffle, Good Morning Britain will be extended by half an hour, broadcasting from 6am to 9:30am each weekday.
This means that Lorraine Kelly’s show will be reduced from one hour to half an hour, and it will only be broadcast for 30 weeks of the year.
During the weeks when Lorraine is not on air, Good Morning Britain will extend further until 10am.
Nadia has been a staple on Loose Women since its inception in 1999.
Other long-standing stars include Janet, Denise Welch, Jane Moore, Kaye Adams and Linda Robson.
In recent years, the show has welcomed new faces such as Charlene White, Judi Love, Olivia Attwood and GK Barry, bringing the current total of regular panellists to 25.
Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV and ITVX
