Latest news with #BrendaEdwards
Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Loose Women panellist Brenda Edwards fears losing her job amid brutal ITV cuts
Loose Women's Brenda Edwards shared her worries about her job amid ITV's budget cuts. The 56-year-old has been a panellist for the talk show since 2019 and hopes to keep her position on the programme to "raise awareness" on multiple topics that are regularly discussed on the show. It comes as ITV revealed Loose Women will be airing for 30 weeks instead of 52 weeks starting from the New Year. Over 220 jobs at the channel are also being cut. Speaking to Women's Own magazine, she said: "You have to move with the times I guess, and I hope this is just an interim thing, and maybe in a few years' time [it will go back to how it was], but we can only wait and see. Google Pixel 9 Pro handset hits low prices "I don't like to make assumptions on anything because I don't know what's happening there but I hope I manage to get some shows and am able to use my platform to raise awareness for whatever I can." She went on to discuss her fellow panellists, admitting she's a "big fan" of Janet Street-Porter and her 'feistiness'. She added: "I just love her feistiness and outspokenness, which I think a lot of us have. She is doing her first-ever tour where she will talk to the audience, and it's going to be fab! "I'm assuming she will talk about everything, including her life, so it will be amazing! We support each other as always. I remember when I was growing up all the women in my family loved Janet and what she stood for." Brenda isn't the only Loose Women star to comment on the move as fellow panellist Nadia Sawalha previously said the ITV budget cuts news came 'out of the blue' and would be 'absolutely brutal' for the show. Speaking on her YouTube channel, she said: 'What's been brutal, absolutely brutal, over the last week, honestly I feel tearful about it, is that hundreds of people... are going to be made redundant out of the blue, these are all the people behind the scenes that support us in every way.' The cuts mean that around 220 out of the 440 staff involved in the programmes would lose their jobs following the decision published in May, reports the Guardian. Whilst Loose Women will stay at the same running time, the number of times it appears on the air will be cut from 52 to 30 weeks. ITV's media and entertainment division Kevin Lygo has said that cutting Loose Women and Lorraine's weeks aligned 'with the lead daytime presenters who host their shows around a seasonal pattern'. He explained: 'Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust, as well generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.'
Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Loose Women star shares candid five-word update as she breaks silence on ITV cuts
A member of the Loose Women panel has commented on the show's cuts after ITV Studios announced the programme would only be on for 30 weeks in 2026 Television presenter Brenda Edwards has broken her silence on what she thinks about changes being made to Loose Women, and how she really feels about the recent ITV cuts. Brenda, who found fame on The X Factor under the watchful eye of Sharon Osbourne before appearing in a series of hit West End musicals such as Sister Act, has been a regular on Loose Women in recent years. However, it was recently announced by ITV that the show would see reduced screen time in 2026 due to cuts at the broadcaster. Speaking to Woman's Own, Brenda, 56, said that she was accepting of the move, but is struggling with the uncertainty around it, as the star candidly admitted she "doesn't know what's happening". Brenda said: 'You have to move with the times I guess, and I hope this is just an interim thing, and maybe in a few years time [it will go back to how it was], but we can only wait and see. 'I don't like to make assumptions on anything because I don't know what's happening there but I hope I manage to get some shows and am able to use my platform to raise awareness for whatever I can.' Brenda isn't the only Loose Women star to comment on the move with fellow panellist Nadia Sawalha saying that the decision came 'out of the blue' and would be 'absolutely brutal' for the show. Speaking on her YouTube channel, she said: 'What's been brutal, absolutely brutal, over the last week, honestly I feel tearful about it, is that hundreds of people... are going to be made redundant out of the blue, these are all the people behind the scenes that support us in every way.' Nadia and Brenda's comments came after it was announced that ITV Studios, who produce Lorraine, Good Morning Britain, and This Morning, as well as Loose Women, would be cutting their budgets. The cuts mean that around 220 out of the 440 staff involved in the programmes would lose their jobs following the decision published in May, reports the Guardian. Whilst Loose Women will stay at the same running time, the number of times it appears on the air will be cut from 52 to 30 weeks. In a statement following the announcement, the managing director of ITV's media and entertainment division Kevin Lygo said that cutting Loose Women and Lorraine's weeks aligned 'with the lead daytime presenters who host their shows around a seasonal pattern'. He added: 'Daytime is a really important part of what we do, and these scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust, as well generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.'
The Sun
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Sun
Emily Atack left stumped by three tricky Celebrity Catchphrase riddles in nightmare finale – but do you know any?
EMILY Atack was left stumped by three tricky Celebrity Catchphrase riddles in a nightmare finale - but do you know any? The Rivals actress competed on the hit ITV show alongside Brenda Edwards and Martin Kemp. 4 4 Emily - who recently announced her engagement - stormed through the rounds and made it to the Super Catchphrase finale. However, the wheels quickly fell off for the actress as she struggled to get an answer to secure £2,500. The first catchphrase saw a man chop into a cauliflower in his kitchen, revealing cheese inside. After a couple of unsuccessful guesses, Emily moved on to another, which featured two men shaking hands over a loaf of bread. They then smashed it with mallets, but Emily didn't have a clue and cried: "What? These are hard!" She then moaned "Oh no!" before deciding to move on to another, but the situation did not improve. As the clock ticked down, she was shown a box on a street which opened to show letters inside. She passed, and went for a fourth go at securing £2,500, which the catchphrase showing a couple trying to check into a hotel, with a fully booked sign next to the front desk. But the man then pulled a cord and they were able to go in, with Emily correctly guessing: "Pull some strings." However, she only had five seconds left and was unable to start on the catchphrase that could have landed her charity £5,000. Celebrity Catchphrase stumps Derry Girls legend with the final image - but could you have got it? As the time ran out, host Stephen Mulhern put his hands to his face while Emily said again that it was "so hard" and put her hand to her forehead. Stephen then revealed the answers to the three catchphrases she had missed. The first catchphrase she passed on was 'cauliflower cheese', while the second was 'breaking bread' relating to when people meet each other. The third one ended up being 'letter box', prompting Emily to say "Oh my God!" and put her hand to her mouth. It wasn't all bad for Emily though, as Stephen added her £2,500 to the money she had won earlier in the show, meaning she was taking a total of £7,200 to her chosen charity. 4
Daily Mirror
12-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Loose Women star eyes up normal office job amid ITV cuts bloodbath
Singer, actress and TV personality Brenda Edwards talks about the changes to Loose Women, the soap she'd love to star in and the office job she still has Brenda Edwards rose to fame after finishing fourth on The X Factor in 2005. Since then she has forged a successful career as a theatre star and become a firm favourite on the Loose Women panel, which she joined in 2019. The star has brought her trademark fun and humour to the chat show, previously confessing that she and Judi Love are the' wildest Loose Women'. But it's all change soon, after ITV announced that the show will be aired for just 30 weeks a year from January. Here, Brenda, 56, gives her surprisingly philosophical take on the news – and reveals the beloved soap she'd adore a part in and why, when work is lean, she's quite happy to return to her temping job... READ MORE: Amazon shoppers rave about cooling pyjamas that 'worked a treat' Hi Brenda! Loose Women is so popular, it's hard to believe ITV is cutting its screen time next year… I think a lot of people were surprised, but it's a business and you've got to run a business in the most efficient way possible. I don't have anything to do with the business side, I'm just about giving my stories, opinions and views on things, so as long as I'm allowed to do that, I'm happy. Rumour has it they may stop filming with a live audience… They haven't confirmed it, but I would miss it. A live audience is great because it gives you some affirmation, it confirms the things that you're saying when With Brian May in We Will Rock You they clap. But we did without in lockdown, so... There might be a lot of fans at home who write in and ask for the audience back. So we'll see. Do you think it will still be successful with the changes? I do. Because there is always a space for women – and men, because there are Loose Men as well. There is definitely a space for us to get our opinions out and help others. While there is somebody who needs helping or entertaining, there is always a space for Loose Women and Loose Men. The show will be missed when it's not on during the summer holidays... Yes, it won't air during the summer holidays and when Ascot and the racing is on, but we will just be bigger and better when we do come back. You've met so many celebrities on the show. Who is the one person you still hope to meet? Well, I would have loved to meet Whitney Houston, because she was my idol. I never got to do that, but I did get to see her in concert at Wembley. What's your funniest celeb story so far? I was playing the Killer Queen in the musical We Will Rock You in Manchester and Brian May came to play his guitar. He came from one side of the stage, Roger Taylor came from the back of the stage on the drums, and they collided. I tried to save Brian – I went to get his hand but he stopped me. He kept playing his guitar, because he's a rock star. In the words of Queen, The Show Must Go On. You previously said you'd love to go on Strictly this year. Have they been in touch? No, I haven't been asked yet. I have a few other exciting things lined up, but I can't say anything right now. What about soaps? Would you ever consider a part on EastEnders? Oh, I'd love it! If they came calling, of course I would. I'm a major fan and I've been watching it since it started. I love EastEnders – there is always a story there. You could play Denise's cousin on the show… I could. Let's manifest it! I could be Denise's long-lost cousin, and it actually turns out that I had the child, not Denise. The X Factor changed the course of your life. Did y ou ever imagine you'd leave your old job in accounts and do what you're doing now? I still go back to working in accounts when the jobs aren't coming in. If I haven't got any work on, I go back to temping. I've got a mortgage to pay. I'm not shy. Work is work and money is money. I've got to make my money even if I'm not doing anything on stage or on TV. When was the last time you temped, then? Just coming out of lockdown. I temped at Twickenham rugby ground and I worked in accounts payable. I've got my certificates, so I know how to do it. It's like riding a bike – you never forget. I'm not afraid of hard work. Bring it on!
The Guardian
19-06-2025
- The Guardian
Why MI6 chief is C and uses green ink
Your report (Blaise Metreweli named as first woman to lead UK intelligence service MI6, 15 June) said 'the head of MI6 is known internally as C – short for chief'. C is not short for chief. The first head of MI6 was Sir Mansfield Cumming, who always signed his letters 'C' in green ink. It has been a tradition since to call the head of service C and for them to use green HollesLeeds One Christmas our son bought my husband a Donald Trump lavatory brush. Although it's not official merchandise (Why is there a Maga-branded Instant Pot? Because capitalism never sleeps, 18 June), over the years it has given us immense satisfaction plunging the orange head into the depths in order to Make the Bowl Great EdwardsGrange-over-Sands, Cumbria When our children were young and their dad had decided to shave off his moustache (Adrian Chiles, 18 June), he'd shave off half and see how long it took them to EvansRuthin, Denbighshire Gifting gifts (Letters, 16 June) becomes less of a problem and more worthy of thought if you recall that Gift is the German word for SmithBerlin, Germany I've always been given GodaLiverpool 'Swap in/swap out' rather than 'swap'. 'Hacks' in place of 'tips'. And radio interviewees starting with: 'Thank you for having me.'Janet FraserTwickenham, London Have an opinion on anything you've read in the Guardian today? Please email us your letter and it will be considered for publication in our letters section.
