Loose Women's Janet Street Porter sets record straight on show future after 'sad' setback

Wales Online

2 days ago

Loose Women's Janet Street Porter sets record straight on show future after 'sad' setback
As part of ITV's major 2026 overhaul, Loose Women will move to a seasonal schedule of 30 weeks per year and will no longer feature a studio audience
Janet Street Porter said she won't be affected by the changes
Loose Women star Janet Street Porter has opened up about the upcoming changes to the show, as part of ITV's scheduling plans. Set to come into force in 2026, episodes of the daytime favourite will be reduced, and will no longer have a live audience.
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With the programme scheduled to air just 30 weeks per year, there's speculation that the current roster of 26 panellists may also face cuts. Speaking on the matter, the 78-year-old broadcaster claimed that these changes won't impact her much.
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"They won't really affect me because I work when I want to work," she told Woman Magazine.
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"I can see they need to save money but from my point of view, I'm sad they've cut the episodes because Loose Women as a brand is doing extremely well for ITV.
"Very well indeed. It's increased its audience share and it's loved by the audience."
Janet Street Porter doesn't believe the long-term panellists will be axed from the show
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Having joined the panel back in 2011, Janet is among the show's longstanding contributors alongside the likes of Ruth Langsford, Jane Moore and Kaye Adams.
In a previous interview, the journalist insisted that she and "the older" panellists will not be axed.
She told Bella Magazine: "There are no plans to get rid of the older women, despite of what some people have said!
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"In fact, the reverse is true. ITV actually put out a statement saying we are the valued members of the show because the audience totally relate to us."
Janet also believes the show has become "trusted by a lot of women", due to the difficult topics the panellists discuss, from female health to domestic violence.
"I think the show has managed to connect to women who wouldn't otherwise have a voice," she added.
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"And it's delivered with a lot of laughs because we don't take ourselves too seriously."
Loose Women's Nadia Sawalha said she found the cuts 'brutal'
(Image: ITV)
While Janet has a nonchalant attitude towards the change-up, her co-host Nadia Sawalha expressed a different view.
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In a heartfelt video on her YouTube channel, the actress described the sudden cuts as "absolutely brutal".
Addressing the uncertainty of her future on the show due to her self-employed status, she added: "I could be let go tomorrow, [or] I could be let go in five years, you don't know because we're not employees."
Alongside Loose Women, Lorraine Kelly's eponymous show will also shift to a 30-week seasonal schedule, and will see its airtime reduced from one hour to 30 minutes.
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Kevin Lygo, the managing director of ITV's Media and Entertainment Division, acknowledged in a statement that the broadcaster is undergoing a "transition".
He stated: "I recognise that our plans will have an impact on staff off screen in our Daytime production teams.
"We will work with ITV Studios and ITN as they manage these changes to produce the shows differently from next year, and support them through this transition."
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Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV and ITVX.