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Denise Welch's Loose Women exit has ITV viewers making ominous prediction

TV star Denise Welch is the latest panellist to exit Loose Women, with her departure prompting worried fans to make an ominous prediction about the the long-running daytime TV programme

[Denise Welch attends The Royal Television Society Programme Awards 2025 at JW Marriott Grosvenor House on March 25, 2025 in London, England]

Denise Welch is leaving Loose Women after 25 years(Image: Alan Chapman/Dave Benett/Getty Images)

Beloved TV star Denise Welch is the latest panellist to exit Loose Women, with her departure prompting worried fans to make an ominous prediction about the the long-running daytime TV programme. The ITV panel show, now in its 26th year, has rarely faced such sweeping upheaval as it has in recent months.

ITV's sweeping cost-cutting drive has forced the programme to overhaul the way it operates. A seasonal broadcasting model introduced back in January means the Loose Women now runs for 30 weeks rather than airing year-round, marking a significant shift from its traditional format.The programme also entirely eliminated its live studio audience. This move resulted in the immediate dismissal of long-serving studio warm-up comedian Lee Peart, triggering an emotional response from the remaining presenters.

[Loose Women panel]

Some ITV viewers have now made an ominous prediction about the show(Image: ITV)

Loose Women has also vacated its former premises and shifted to The H Club Studio in Covent Garden. It now occupies a shared, centralised, 360-degree LED-walled studio facility alongside This Morning and Lorraine to significantly cut production costs.

While its regular duration remains one hour (12:30 pm to 1:30 pm), the programme has trialled temporary extensionsincluding 15-minute "extra time" segments to accommodate sports scheduling and particular themed features.

It was also disclosed this month that panellist Nadia Sawalha was dropped from the programme by ITV following controversy over her beliefs. Now, news emerges today (August 13) that Denise Welch has departed the programme.

The 68-year-old, who has appeared on and off the show for 25 years, revealed she wishes to commit herself entirely to her acting career, which she has called her genuine passion and "first love".

She has enjoyed a remarkable professional revival lately, landing substantial television parts including the Channel 4 sitcom Stepping Up and the Channel 5 drama Forever Home.

In a video shared on her personal Instagram account, Welch revealed the reasoning behind her choice.

She said: "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."

Speaking about her stint on Loose Women, she added: "This show has been part of mine, and my family's life, for nearly a quarter of a century. I have the most wonderful, wonderful memories.

"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."

[Nadia Sawalha]

Nadia Sawalha was recently dropped by ITV from the programme recently following controversy over her beliefs(Image: Getty Images)

Amid fierce public speculation regarding the programme's condition, she explained her bond with the cast, adding: "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."

Her announcement sparked an enormous outpouring of support from her colleagues, underlining her significance as the "beating heart" of the panel.

Presenter Kaye Adams penned: "You have broken my heart but I shall watch your Den-aissance with love and pride."

Meanwhile, Nadia Sawalha commented: "You are such a fantastic actress. Fly high lovely."

Numerous viewers also expressed how much they'd enjoyed watching her on the programme, though some forecasted the show's decline following her exit and other recent developments.

One viewer commented: "It's not fun to watch anymore and it feels like people are not allowed to have different opinions on the important things! Plus ITV deciding to get the rid of the audience is the beginning of the end. You were my favourite one!".

Another suggested Loose Women is "grinding to a halt", while a third remarked: "I'm glad you jumped before the ship went down."

The revelation comes as it was also reported that ITV has recently axed a Loose Women spin-off project as part of continuing budget cuts across the broadcaster.

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