Denise Welch breaks silence on Meghan row after ‘utterly pathetic’ Ofcom complaints

Denise Welch breaks silence on Meghan row after ‘utterly pathetic’ Ofcom complaints

The Loose Women presenter broke her silence after a recent row on the ITV programme sparked over a hundred complaints after she defended Meghan Markle.

Denise Welch has doubled down on her support for Meghan Markle as the royal continues her tour of Nigeria with Prince Harry.

The 65 year old sparked a divide after being hit with 103 Ofcom complaints following a row between the panellist and former press secretary Dickie Arbiter over his criticism of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

The outrage followed a debate between Denise and Dickie where the former fiercely stood up for Meghan during a live broadcast. The former press secretary had been on air discussing the monarch’s cancer battle.

When he turned his attention to the strained relationship between King Charles and Prince Harry, Denise jumped in to defend the couple’s decision to leave the Royal Family.

Taking to Instagram today (May 12), the ITV favourite shared a photo of Meghan alongside Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, where the pair beamed at each other.

Denise told her 422,000 followers: “Last week I defended them against one of their detractors on tv and received 103 complaints from Ofcom!!! Good. Also utterly pathetic.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Nigeria as part of Invictus Games Anniversary celebrations

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle visit Nigeria as part of Invictus Games Anniversary celebrations (Image: Getty)

She also shared: “Meghan Markle has been a spokeswoman for women of colour and gender equality since she was 11 yrs old. She has held a place on the world stage for years before she met Harry as a UN women’s advocate.”(sic)

Denise added she is “appalled” at the criticism the Duchess of Sussex has received and claimed it’s “no wonder her husband took her away and despite everything they are thriving”.

The Loose Women star added: “Their reception in Nigeria has been wonderful to see.”

Social media users flocked to comment on the post as Mark Hanretty penned: “Well said Denise!!!!! More love no hate.”

“Well done Denise and thank you. Harry and Meghan did nothing wrong and they have every right to share their story,” another penned.

Others disagreed as a third wrote: “You’re entitled to your opinion,” while another added: “Sorry Denise totally disagree with you.”

Denise row

Loose Women’s Denise Welch clashed with Dickie Arbiter on Monday’s show (May 6) (Image: ITV)

We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

Meghan and Ngozi

Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala shared a sweet photo alongside Meghan Markle (Image: X/TWITTER/Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala)

During the on-air debate on Loose Women, Denise fumed: “If I may say, do you not think there is a reason why Harry did such a thing?” She then shared her views about everything the couple have been through and the scrutiny they have come under.

She told Dickie: “Then he has a wife who is completely and continually trashed by the media, including your good self.

“I am just sick to death of the bashing that this woman gets (…) we continually berate this woman every day,” she concluded. Although she was cheered on by some audience members, the debate sparked a flurry of complaints.

Host Coleen Nolan tried to stop the situation from escalating, reminding Denise she hadn’t expected a “debate” to take place in the studio as Dickie told her she may have been reading “too many tabloids”, leading her to insist for him to not “disrespect her”.

Meghan and Harry arrived in Lagos for the final day of their Nigerian tour. The Sussexes were greeted with a traditional dance as they stepped off their flight. The couple watched the performance from a red carpet and were seen clapping along.

Meanwhile, Director-General Ngozi shared a series of photos of her time spent with the Sussexes, writing on X: “A wonderful afternoon with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex during their trip in Abuja, Nigeria. Happy to share with Meghan, the Duchess the warmth and friendly embrace of Nigerians. At our meeting with leading Nigerian women, ably moderated by the one and only @MoAbudu, she was showered with names – Ifeoma (a beautiful and good person), Omowale (a child has come home) and Edidiong (blessing).”

Related Posts

Max Verstappen could make history at Silverstone by equalling Lewis Hamilton’s record for most British Grand Prix wins, while also chasing multiple other milestones in one of the most anticipated races of the 2025 season. Will Hamilton’s dominance on home soil finally face its biggest threat yet?

The British Grand Prix is one of the highlights of the sporting calendar and could be the place where a number of F1 records are broken. Silverstone…

George Russell’s Smile Hides the Truth? Carlos Sainz Suspects He Knows More About Verstappen’s Potential Mercedes Switch Than He Lets On – Is There a Secret Deal?

George Russell could become the next Carlos Sainz this year. Despite performing at an elite level, he could feasibly lose his Mercedes seat. In 2024, Sainz fell victim to…

In a move nobody expected, Porsche has officially confirmed its entry into Formula 1, sending shockwaves through the paddock. With rumours of secret engine deals and high-profile talent on board, teams like Red Bull and Mercedes are now facing an entirely new threat – and fans can’t believe it’s actually happening.

Porsche and Williams: The F1 Alliance That Could Reshape the 2026 Grid Something seismic is brewing in the world of Formula 1—and for once, it’s not a…

Toto Wolff is now seriously considering a high-stakes agreement that could bring Max Verstappen to Mercedes – a move designed not just to win races, but to secure George Russell’s position and pave the way for young Kimi Antonelli’s future in Formula 1’s most powerful team.

Mercedes team principal Toto Wolff has been chasing Max Verstappen since before he became a Formula 1 driver. Max Verstappen was a standout performer throughout his junior career,…

Ralf Schumacher has stirred the Formula 1 world by suggesting that George Russell might soon part ways with Mercedes — and join forces with a £1.2bn-valued contender. With tensions rising and contract talks looming, could a seismic transfer shake the grid before the 2026 regulations even kick in?

Mercedes driver George Russell must be wondering what he has to do to earn a new contract for next season. Outside of the two McLaren drivers and…

Before he left Mercedes, Lewis Hamilton made a quiet but powerful statement – and now, Max Verstappen has echoed that exact same sentiment, sending shockwaves across the paddock and raising serious questions about his future at Red Bull after months of behind-the-scenes tension.

Max Verstappen gave the media very little in one of the busiest press conferences in years at the British Grand Prix. But this is consistent with his…