'It ain't a stale programme!' Charlene White says Loose Women shake-up has been a success
Loose Women head panellist Charlene White believes the changes on the ITV daytime series have made the programme better.
Charlene White says other “stale” debate shows need to learn from the shake-up at Loose Women and hire more diverse panellists.
The ITV daytime programme has undergone a major overhaul over the past year, with cuts to behind-the-scenes staff and panellists having their roles reduced.
But while some of the changes have been difficult for the stars and staff, Charlene insists the diversification of the panel has been a massive positive and means discussions have become more lively thanks to the different voices.
As well as Charlene stepping into the role of head panellist, there has been more airtime for comedian Judi Love, West End star Brenda Edwards and influencer GK Barry, among others.
Speaking to BANG Showbiz, Charlene said: “I think if you’re going to have a debate programme, which it is, then it’s important to mix it up. It’s important to have newer voices come in, because that’s what keeps it fresh, that’s what keeps it current, that’s what keeps it interesting.
“I think there are many other programmes that could learn a lesson from Loose Women because when you continue to have the same people doing the same things all the time, then programmes get stale. There’s one thing we can say about Loose Women - it ain’t a stale programme.”
ITN news anchor Charlene says that, despite the Loose Women overhaul, what is apparent is that the current line-up of panellists have each other’s backs, a difference from the reported behind-the-scenes bitchiness that plagued the programme previously.
She said: “It’s not nice to see your colleagues be made redundant. That’s been really difficult. But what’s wonderful about working alongside the team that we work with and working alongside each other is that it doesn’t matter what you throw at Loose Women, we will make it work. We get to still be with each other, we get to still share stories, we get to make people laugh at lunchtime, we can have a few tears, but when we have those tears, we still have each other for support, and I think that’s important, and I think that’s an important thing for people to see. We don’t agree all the time, but we do have each other’s backs all the time.”
Recently, Denise Welch announced she was leaving Loose Women after 25 years on the series.
The 68-year-old actress made the decision to step away as a panellist to return to acting, and she will be appearing in five TV shows this year, including the upcoming Forever Home, Stepping Up and Benidorm Is Murder.
She said in a video shared on Instagram: “I'm leaving Loose Women.
“After best part of 25 years, off and on, I did leave for about seven years and went back in 2018. This show has been a part of me and my family's life for nearly a quarter of a century.
“I have the most wonderful, wonderful memories and it's just that acting has always been my first love and I think the thing I'm best at, and at the moment I'm having the most wonderful opportunities coming my way.
“I'm grabbing them by the you know whats and running with it for this new chapter of my life.
“So I just wanted to say that in person to thank all of the people who have shared my stories with me, 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 and I just hope you wish me well for this new and exciting chapter in my life.”
Denise - who is the mother of The 1975 singer Matty Healy - vowed to stay in contact with the “whole gang” who work on Loose Women.
She concluded: “I'll miss everybody but I will remain friends with the whole gang because... we are a happy band of campers. Anyway, lots of love, thanks for sticking with me.”
A spokesperson for the show declared Denise would be “hugely” missed.
The representative said: “Denise has been such a brilliant part of the Loose Women family and we are going to miss her hugely on the show.
“We are sending her all of our love and best wishes for her next chapter.”
