Former Loose Women star Sherrie Hewson says show has 'completely changed' since her time on the panel and claims the women 'no longer have the same freedom' as Denise Welch becomes the latest star to quit

Former Loose Women star Sherrie Hewson has claimed the show has 'completely changed' since her time on the panel.

Denise Welch, 68, became the latest panellist to quit the show after 25 years to focus on her acting work on Thursday.

Following Denise's departure, Sherrie and former co-star Carol McGiffin have both taken swipes at the ITV show.

Sherrie, 75, who left the programme in 2016 after 14 years, said she believes women 'no longer have the same freedom' to speak on the show any more.

She said: 'Times have changed, but we were very free and we could talk about anything. We could say anything.

'We could discuss what we wanted, but now you can't. It's a very different time. You have to be controlled; you can't say this, you can't say that. It was just very free. 

'It was just women talking, but we didn't think anybody was watching, and I don't think they were.'  

Former Loose Women star Sherrie Hewson, 75, has claimed the show has 'completely changed' since her time on the panel (pictured in 2024 as a guest)

Former Loose Women star Sherrie Hewson, 75, has claimed the show has 'completely changed' since her time on the panel (pictured in 2024 as a guest)

Denise Welch became the latest panellist to quit the show after 25 years on Thursday (Andrea McLean, Denise, Lisa Maxwell and Sherrie pictured)

Denise Welch became the latest panellist to quit the show after 25 years on Thursday (Andrea McLean, Denise, Lisa Maxwell and Sherrie pictured)

She added to Zingo Bingo: 'We had a lot of wonderful guests, like the cast of Friends, Bette Midler, and Robbie Williams was always on. That's sad because that's all gone now, they don't have guests or a studio audience because they've moved studios. 

'We had such an amazing time and such freedom to be just us as girls. I'd say, "What do you mean, Carol? You're talking c***. What are you talking about?" She would go, "Don't you talk to me like that," and I’d say, "I'll talk to you how I want!" They were real rows.

'Sadly, that went with the structure as it changed, and became very formulaic. It's completely changed again and is now very structured - very what I would call subdued. We were never like that. 

'We were loud, out there and if anyone said anything, we'd have a go at them. It was just a fantastic time. We won a lot of awards, but times change. Everything changes. With 'woke' now, it’s very hard for them to be as free as we were.'

The Daily Mail has approached Loose Women for a comment. 

Meanwhile, Carol marked Denise's exit with a ruthless comment towards the show.

'Baaaabes, can't believe you stuck it out for so long!' she swiped. 

'Upwards and upwards it is then. I won’t see you up there but hope to see you down here sometime!'

Carol, who was one of the show's original panellists, was renowned for her no-nonsense talking during her on and off 20-year stint on the programme.

She previously opened up about the decision to leave the show back in 2023 in her weekly column for the publication. 

Sherrie, who left the programme in 2016 after 14 years, said she believes women 'no longer have the same freedom' to speak on the show anymore

Sherrie, who left the programme in 2016 after 14 years, said she believes women 'no longer have the same freedom' to speak on the show anymore

Following Denise's departure, Sherrie and former co-star Carol McGiffin have both taken swipes at the ITV show (Denise and Sherrie pictured)

Following Denise's departure, Sherrie and former co-star Carol McGiffin have both taken swipes at the ITV show (Denise and Sherrie pictured)

Carol marked Denise's exit with a ruthless comment towards her former show

Carol marked Denise's exit with a ruthless comment towards her former show

Carol said: 'I haven't been on the show for two months now because I've had to step away from it. It was causing me too much stress, which was mostly down to a difficult contract issue I'd been challenging since January.

'The problem was, ITV were insisting, for the first time since I went back in 2018, that if I wanted to carry on doing the show, I would have to sign a contract that was totally unjust and unworkable for me, so I had to say no thanks.

'And I know it looks like I've thrown my toys out of the pram, but the whole saga was affecting my health.'

Meanwhile, Denise first appeared on Loose Women in 2000, before becoming one of the show's most recognisable faces. Her last appearance on the show was June 29.

In a video on Instagram, Denise shared she had decided to step down so she could focus on the 'wonderful opportunities' she'd been given.

Paying tribute to her fellow panellists, Denise said she would remain friends with 'all' of her co-stars, and insisted that despite claims of behind-the-scenes tensions, they were a 'happy band of campers'. 

Denise recently starred in the Channel 4 drama Tip Toe, and is also set to star in an adaptation of Graham Norton's novel Forever Home. 

Sharing news of her departure, Denise said: 'I'm leaving Loose Women.

'After best part of 25 years, off and on, I did leave for about seven years and went back in 2018. This show has been a part of me and my family's life for nearly a quarter of a century. 

Carol and Denise formed part of Loose Women's original panellists (pictured together on the show in 2008)

Carol and Denise formed part of Loose Women's original panellists (pictured together on the show in 2008)

The Coronation Street star, 68, decided to step down from the ITV show to focus on her acting work, having been offered a string of roles in recent months

The Coronation Street star, 68, decided to step down from the ITV show to focus on her acting work, having been offered a string of roles in recent months 

'I have the most wonderful, wonderful memories and it's just that acting has always been my first love and I think the thing I'm best at, and at the moment I'm having the most wonderful opportunities coming my way.

'I'm grabbing them by the you know whats and running with it for this new chapter of my life.

'So I just wanted to say that in person to thank all of the people who have shared my stories with me, I've shared my life with you, the good, the bad and the ugly.

'I'm very Marmite, but I cherish all the comments good or bad that I've had over the years and I just hope you wish me well for this new and exciting chapter in my life.

'I'll miss everybody but I will remain friends with the whole gang because... we are a happy band of campers. Anyway lots of love, thanks for sticking with me.'

A spokesman for Loose Women said: 'Denise has been such a brilliant part of the Loose Women family and we are going to miss her hugely on the show. 

'We are sending her all of our love and best wishes for her next chapter.'

Denise was a huge hit on Loose Women, but her string of opinionated rants divided opinion over the years. 

Last year she took aim at her son Matty's ex-girlfriend Taylor Swift during an appearance on Bravo TV's Watch What Happens Live.

Denise was a huge hit on Loose Women, but her string of opinionated rants divided opinion over the years (pictured on Loose Women in 2026)

Denise was a huge hit on Loose Women, but her string of opinionated rants divided opinion over the years (pictured on Loose Women in 2026)

Denise seemed to accuse Taylor's fans of lashing out at anyone who dares to criticise the hitmaker, despite the pop star taking personal digs at her exes in her songs.

When answering a question about her reaction to The Tortured Poets Department album, Welch replied: 'Obviously, on pain of death can I talk about that episode, but being her mother-in-law is a role that I am glad that I lost.'

Elsewhere, Denise has clashed with many of her Loose Women co-stars over the years, including Kaye Adams and Stacey Solomon

Her most famous rants have been about Covid-19 restrictions, Matt Hancock entering I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! and Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

In June 2021, Denise also had a furious row with Gloria Hunniford over Covid-19 restrictions shortly after the height of the pandemic.

Denise and Kaye Adams also locked horns during a fiery exchange, as they debated whether the public should still follow Covid restrictions after Matt Hancock was caught breaking them himself.

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