Kéllé Bryan: Loose Women has to move with the times
Loose Women panellist Kéllé Bryan feels that the significant changes to ITV daytime show over the past year have been "necessary".
Kéllé Bryan thinks it is essential that Loose Women remains "relevant".
The former Eternal singer has featured as a panellist on the ITV daytime show since 2019 and feels that major changes to the programme in recent times – such as panellists leaving and the removal of the studio audience – are "necessary".
Kéllé told Heat magazine: "There's been lots of changes, but I think that's necessary, don't you? You have to stay relevant, and you've got to go with the times.
"You've got to move with what's happening, and so I like that we are able to be fresh and turn that over."
Bryan, who previously starred in Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks as Martine Deveraux from 2018 to 2022, enjoys the fact that she is able to balance her Loose Women commitments with other projects she is working on.
The 51-year-old star said: "The lovely thing about Loose Women is that they've got it right, because they allow you to interweave it with whatever other projects you're working on.
"In the past, I was able to shoot things like (comedy drama series) Significant Other and panto, so it helps me with whatever else I have going on in my career. For as long as they'll have me, I'll be on board."
Denise Welch announced her departure from Loose Women in August after 25 years on the daytime staple to concentrate on her acting career and Kéllé is thrilled for her former Hollyoaks co-star.
She said of the ex-Coronation Street actress: "She said people keep forgetting that she's an actor, then she went off and played the Queen in Diana: The Musical, and the rest is history!
"I'm just so proud of her. We were on Hollyoaks at the same time, and we did that for a good couple of years together. So, for me, I know her as an actor, but sometimes the audience doesn't know that, because you're doing so many different things. I just think, 'More power to her.'"
Kéllé is grateful that the Loose Women producers allow her to suggest topics that are discussed on the programme, providing her with the platform to talk about important matters such as her lupus diagnosis.
She said: "I like to talk about issues I'm passionate about. That's what's great about the show – you can bring your own ideas and stories to the producers.
"I've been able to open up about my (autoimmune condition) lupus. I spoke about my diagnosis and that hadn't been discussed before. We try to push the boundaries and have those discussions that need to be had."
