As ITV’s daytime lineup faces a shake-up, with sweeping job cuts dubbed a “bloodbath” threatening nearly half of its staff, it’s hard not to reflect on the rollercoaster year Loose Women has delivered on screen.
Whilst the show's future is uncertain, it is known for its lively debates and candid revelations, which have created some of the most bizarre, emotional, and headline-grabbing moments.
Many are in shock at the news that nearly 220 staff members could lose their jobs across ITV’s daytime schedule, affecting flagship shows like Loose Women, Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, and This Morning.
Loose Women itself is being cut back to a “seasonal” schedule of 30 weeks a year in cost-saving measures. But before the dust settles on these dramatic changes, there have been some truly unforgettable moments that made Loose Women a must-watch, from shocking confessions to celebrity clashes.
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Loose Women is no stranger to controversy, with many moments that have made headlines across the country. Here’s a look at the bizarre and unforgettable moments that kept viewers glued to their screens:
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‘Rapist sympathising’ storm
Judy Finnigan made a controversial debut in 2014 when she spoke about footballer Ched Evans’ rape conviction appeal, saying: “The rape was not violent, he didn't cause any bodily harm to the person.”
Outraged viewers accused her of sympathising with a rapist. She later clarified: “I absolutely wasn't suggesting that rape was anything other than an horrendous crime... I was in no way attempting to minimise the terrible ordeal that any woman suffers as a result.”
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Earlier in 2006, the Irish Independent reported that Loose Women conducted a poll asking viewers whether they believed rape could ever be a woman's fault. The poll was met with widespread criticism from viewers and organizations such as Rape Crisis, leading ITV to issue an apology, acknowledging the poll as "misjudged".
The C-bomb scandal
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In 2016, Katie Price’s son Harvey shocked viewers when he joined the show to talk about online bullying. Asked how he’d respond to trolls, he said: “Hello, you c***.”
Katie quickly reacted with, “Erm, Harvey!”, as Andrea McLean stepped in to apologise for the language.
Gay rights row
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In 2015, Coleen Nolan sparked fury by defending a bakery that refused to decorate a cake supporting same-sex marriage. She compared it to being asked to make a cake with an ISIS message, saying: “Would they have to make that?”
The comments prompted outrage, with viewers demanding she be sacked, though no action was taken.
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Joan Rivers’ swear-filled red carpet rant
Comedy legend Joan Rivers didn’t hold back in 2008 when asked about her Hollywood encounters: “You get someone like Russell Crowe, and you want to say to the camera, ' He is a piece – get ready to bleep this – of f****** s***!'”
Her panellist pals had to scramble to apologise, with Jane McDonald quipping: “We haven't got a bleeper. We're live!”
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Fat-shaming fury
Janet Street-Porter faced backlash in 2022 after saying Wayne Rooney looked like he was “about to explode” out of his suit during the Wagatha Christie trial.
Angry viewers branded her “vile”, with one asking: “Imagine if she was saying that about a woman?”
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Continuing with the theme of fat-shaming, in 2015, the BBC reported Jamelia faced criticism after stating that high street stores shouldn't stock clothes for individuals above a certain size, suggesting that it encourages unhealthy lifestyles. She later apologised, clarifying that her comments were taken out of context.
Katie Price’s bum flash
Viewers were left open-mouthed in 2016 when Katie Price modelled a high-slit dress during a fashion segment and accidentally flashed her bum on live TV.
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Some called it “awkward viewing” – others hailed her figure as “amazing".
Kim Woodburn walks out
Tensions erupted in 2018 when Kim Woodburn stormed off set, branding Coleen Nolan “lying trash” and calling her a “piece of filth” after a brutal on-air clash.
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The explosive row prompted over 3,000 Ofcom complaints, with Kim later claiming she’d been ambushed.
Coleen and the panel said they had "genuinely hoped for a reconciliation".
Charlotte Crosby's nose job clash
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Charlotte Crosby vowed never to return after feeling “bullied” over her nose job in 2016.
In an awkward grilling, Janet Street-Porter asked: “What message does that send to teenage girls who… might think, ‘My nose has a lump in it but I haven’t got four grand to spend’?”
Charlotte told new! Magazine: “It was a horrible experience. I cried before and afterwards. I was bullied. I’m never going on again in my life.”
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Josie Cunningham's abortion for nose job confession
In 2015, there was outrage and a public backlash after Josie Cunninham revealed that she had an abortion so that she could get nose job to further her porn career. Jane Moore heavily criticised her being on the show, stating: "I was very uncomfortable with you coming on the show today. I don't like the fact that you are on the show. It's not because I don't like you.
"You need help as far as I’m concerned, to actually look at yourself and say, ‘Why do I have such a low opinion of myself that I think that porn and all of this’…you don’t have any self-esteem and when you look in the mirror I feel that you will never like what you see."
