Things are far from smooth behind the scenes at Loose Women as tensions rise among the presenters following a dramatic ITV shake-up. From January, the popular daytime show will only air for 30 weeks of the year and it’s already causing serious upset among the cast.
According to insiders, some of the show’s well-known faces are putting on their usual cheerful front on screen, but behind the curtain, it’s a different story. One source said, “It’s very tense backstage as the cast are all fuming. It’s like they’re putting on a brave face and doing the show through gritted teeth,” reported the Daily Mail.
The core of the anger? Pay cuts and we’re not talking minor reductions. Many of the Loose Women presenters are paid per episode, so the reduced schedule could see their income drop by as much as 60 per cent. For some, this show isn’t just a side hustle it’s their main job.
“Some people’s pay could be cut by 60% as some get paid by the episode and they’ll be slashed next year,” the insider added. “For some it’s their main source of income and it’s worrying to everyone.”
The shake-up also means fewer faces on the panel overall. With the show running less than half the year, the entire 26-strong line-up of presenters and panellists simply won’t be needed. Up to a third could find themselves sidelined, including well-loved names like Denise Welch, Christine Lampard, Coleen Nolan and Charlene White.
And it’s not just Loose Women facing the chop. Lorraine Kelly’s show is also being cut down trimmed to a 30-minute slot and airing for just 30 weeks a year. In turn, Good Morning Britain will expand its broadcast time to fill the gap, running from 6am to 9.30am.
All of this is part of ITV’s big cost-cutting drive, which has already seen cuts hit its soaps. The company says the savings will be funnelled into new drama and sports content, but for many working on daytime TV, it’s cold comfort.
The fallout is significant. More than 220 jobs are expected to go, nearly half of the 450 people employed across the four big daytime shows GMB, Lorraine, This Morning, and Loose Women.
One ITV worker summed up the mood, saying: “Everyone is completely gutted and in shock. We can’t believe they would dismantle these brilliant shows. It’s the death of daytime TV.”
While ITV bosses remain confident the shake-up will allow them to invest in other areas, for the stars of Loose Women and the teams who make these shows happen, it feels more like the end of an era — and the beginning of a very uncertain future.
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