Latest news with #OffAirwithJaneandFi
Daily Mirror
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
Janet Street-Porter addresses Loose Women future as she plans to 'bully ITV boss'
Speaking in a recent podcast episode, Janet Street-Porter detailed how the number of shows would be reduced to the "level it started", but also had some encouraging words for fans Janet Street-Porter has opened up about the future of Loose Women and revealed that she plans to "bully" the boss of ITV Studios. Speaking on the Off Air with Jane and Fi podcast, the panellist shed light on the financial pressures facing ITV, adding that its advertising revenue had been "diminishing hugely". ITV announced in May that it would axe more than 220 jobs and impose cuts to popular shows like Loose Women and Lorraine as it sought to claw back what Janet described as a "massive amount" of savings. When asked to discuss the "fate" of the show, Janet had some encouraging words for fans. She described how the number of shows had risen "inexorably" over the years and would be reduced back to the level it started on. She confirmed the show would air for 30 weeks of the year (or 150 episodes) and revealed that she'd presented her case for the show to Kevin Lygo, the managing director of ITV Studios, whom she knows "very well." Janet said: "So, I've said to him in no uncertain terms what I feel about it, which is that Loose Women performs a valuable service. "It talks about things women are interested in, in a pretty straightforward way. It gives people a bit of a laugh in the middle of the day, doesn't take itself too seriously." When asked if the show would "carry on", she responded: "Yes, course it's carrying on! Of course it's carrying on. It's carrying on for 30 weeks of next year and maybe more if I can bully Kevin Lygo into submission." She added that the bullying was "metaphorically speaking". Following the ITV announcement, fellow panellist Nadia Sawalha described the cuts as "out of the blue" and "absolutely brutal" for people working on the daytime chat show. Opening up on her YouTube channel at the time, Nadia 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." Meanwhile, reports have emerged this week that the broadcaster plans to step up its cost-cutting strategy further, adding an additional £15 million to the £30 million already announced. ITV said that although the economic environment "remains uncertain," the broadcaster can expect a "better outturn" for the full year 2025, noting that it was "driven by these cost efficiencies." Carolyn McCall, ITV chief executive, said: "ITV is now a leaner, more digital business in a strong position to compete and succeed in a changing market. "We are on track to deliver our 2026 key financial targets, with sustained good growth in ITV Studios and ITVX coupled with strategic cost management as we reshape our cost base to reflect the dynamics of the industry in which we operate."
Perth Now
25-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Geri Halliwell-Horner reveals if Spice Girls will make new music as she speaks out about Madonna
Geri Halliwell-Horner says Spice Girls would only make new music "if it felt relevant", as she dissed Madonna's recent work. The 52-year-old singer admitted she hasn't "connected" to the Queen of Pop's "latest" music, despite being a fan of the likes of 'Holiday' and 'Into the Groove', and insisted the 'Spice Up Your Life' hitmakers would only get back into the studio if it felt right. When asked on Times Radio podcast 'Off Air with Jane and Fi' about potential new music from the 'Wannabe' hitmakers, she said: "If it felt relevant, but if not, either way is OK. "Because I always come from a fan perspective. "Let's say Madonna, right? I'm a massive Madonna fan. "I would say I want to hear 'Holiday' and 'Into the Groove', but I love 'Ray of Light.' "Have I connected to her latest stuff? No. "But she has every right to do that as an artist. It's the relevance. "So if it felt relevant...' Geri also told how she channels the late Queen Elizabeth - who passed away in 2022 aged 96 - when dealing with the demands of being a famous singer, because the monarch "handled her life with such good manners". She said: "I always go from our late queen. There are times when we feel like, what do I do here? "And I always look to her and think, she handled her life with such good manners. I love that. "Sometimes the most powerful thing is to say nothing and let the circumstances unfold, even when we feel we want to shout or blah, blah, blah. "Actually, if you look at her as such a great role model with grace and strength ... and you know, her life wasn't, you know, like all of us, no one's asking for perfection. I think sometimes we don't know the answers."
