Loose Women’s Denise Welch quits show after 25 years to focus on acting as ‘in demand’ star lands five new roles

DENISE Welch is leaving Loose Women after almost a quarter of a century on the ITV show.

The popular former Corrie star will quit the long-running lunchtime programme to focus on her acting.

[Denise Welch attends the "Tip Toe" launch event.] 8

[Coleen Nolan, Terri Dwyer, and Denise Welch smile at a table.] 8

Major screen and fashion opportunities are already in the pipeline.

Welch is so much in demand, she will be seen in five TV shows in as many months.

News of her departure will come as a shock to fans.

A source said: It really is the end of an era.

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She is taking a massive leap of faith and going to focus solely on her acting which, really, has always been her first great love.

Over the past 18 months she has also won herself a whole new fan base with Gen Z, and the LGBTQIA+ community especially.

The source added: This has seen her being offered high-fashion photoshoots, and given new social media opportunities.

Now is the time to pursue her dreams, although she will be devastated to wave goodbye to her Loose friends and colleagues. She will be sorely missed.

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[Kaye Adams, Denise Welch, Laura Whitmore, Katie Piper, and Kelle Bryan sitting at a table with "Loose Women" in the background.] 8

[Prince Charles holding a drink with actress Denise Welch behind the bar of the Rovers Return pub set.] 8

The award-winning series began in 1999, with Denise making her guest debut the following year.

Since then, she has been a regular on the panel, which has four women from the entertainment and journalism industries interviewing stars, discussing their personal lives and debating topical issues.

Other regulars include The Suns Jane Moore, Coleen Nolan and Janet Street Porter, as well as a raft of newer faces brought in over the past five years in an attempt to modernise the format.

Denise has long been regarded as one of the shows most recognisable faces.

[Denise Welch, a woman with short white hair, smiling and wearing a mustard yellow top, gold necklace, and earrings.] 8

[Denise Welch speaking on a television program.] 8

The actress, previously married to Benidorm star Tim Healy, became a household name in the role of Rovers landlady Natalie Barnes in Corrie from 1997 to 2000.

Her affair with Kevin Webster and other major storylines regularly drew in over 20 million viewers.

And she was behind the bar when King Charles, then the Prince of Wales, visited the set for the 40th anniversary in 2000.

Denise, now wed to artist Lincoln Townley, recently starred in Channel 4 drama Tip Toe.

[Denise Welch attending the Attitude Awards 2025.] 8

[Denise Welch speaking to Jane Moore during a television programme.] 8

She will soon be in the Graham Norton novel adaptation Forever Home, sitcom Stepping Up and Benidorm Is Murder.

A source added: Denise has been filming so much of late, it simply became untenable to do both Loose Women and acting. One had to give.