Denise Welch has revealed she is leaving ITV’s daytime programme Loose Women after more than 25 years with the show.
The performer, who has featured on the programme intermittently, is moving away to dedicate herself to her expanding acting work.
She has not featured on the programme since late June.
In footage posted on Instagram, Welch announced the news herself, explaining that after the better part of 25 years, with a break of roughly seven years before returning in 2018, she was stepping down. She described how the programme had become intertwined with her life and her family’s lives for almost 25 years, expressing that she holds treasured memories. She noted that acting has always been her primary passion and what she believes she does best, adding that she is currently receiving exciting opportunities that she intends to seize as she begins this fresh phase.
The Waterloo Road star has been busy recently, with five productions released across recent months.
Among her forthcoming projects are Forever Home, Stepping Up and Benidorm Is Murder.
Welch expressed gratitude to viewers and fellow panellists for their backing over the years and indicated she would maintain friendships with her Loose Women colleagues.
A representative for the programme commended her lengthy involvement with the show and offered warm wishes for her future endeavours. The representative stated that Welch had been a tremendous presence within the Loose Women circle and would be greatly missed.
Recently, Welch addressed suggestions of a difficult atmosphere behind the scenes at the programme. She dismissed the claims during a conversation with Woman’s Own magazine. She explained that throughout her near-24 years with occasional breaks, she had experienced no arguments or harsh words whatsoever, insisting she would not continue working somewhere with a toxic environment at her age of 68, particularly when employment there is not a necessity. She acknowledged that the programme involves strong characters and passionate discussions but emphasised that any disagreements remained confined to the studio setting, with everyone getting along and socialising afterwards. She described arriving at morning meetings eager to share stories with her co-stars.