Loose Women's Andrea McLean has explained the real reason why she decided to quit the show in her shocking and tearful announcement on Monday.
Her co host Janet Street Porter grilled her on why she was leaving and told her off for announcing it on a show Janet was absent from.
Andrea said it was partly due to her nervous breakdown last year triggered by her appearance on Celebrity SAS, followed by the pandemic.
Speaking alongside fellow panelists Judi Love and Stacey Solomon, Janet said: "I wasn't here and you made the announcement without us, but I was completely shocked.
"What made you decide? What tipped the balance, was it lockdown?"
"Yeah, yeah it was, Janet," said Andrea.
"And as you know I had a really rough year, and I think anyone who has experienced any kind of mental distress, I had a breakdown last year and then obviously we have a global pandemic, you stop and think about your life, everyone was saying, 'I can't wait to go back to as it was'.
"And I thought if you discount this year and go into next year, that means next year I will be going back to 2019."
"I want to look forward and, how do I want my life to be? I realised I need to be brave, I need to make bold steps, I am 51, so how much longer have I got!?"
Stacey quipped: "Well blimey Andrea, that's a bit morbid!"
Andrea replied: "No it's true! There is a sense of urgency and if not now, when? There is no such thing as the right time, you have to step off that branch and hope the universe catches you."
Andrea said she was embarrassed about crying so much on the show and said she did not realise it was going to happen.
She confirmed she had "four or five shows left" and confirmed "I am not ill, just leaving".
"Everyone's response has been really lovely, I didn't expect to be talking about it again today."
* Loose Women airs weekdays on ITV at 12:30pm
