Long-serving Loose Women star and former Coronation Street actress Denise Welch has appeared on the ITV daytime series for the last 21 years, but says there is one thing that would make her leave in an instant as she weighs up her future on the show

ITV Loose Women panellist Denise Welch has opened up about her future on the daytime chat show.

The outspoken star has appeared on the show on and off for the past 21 years and seen a revolving door of panelists during her tenure. Denise’s pal Carol McGiffin recently she’s glad she quit the show earlier this year, saying she ‘doesn’t miss it at all.’

Asked about how long she was planning to stick around, Denise said that if her role on the show became stressful she’d be “out like a shot”. Contrary to popular reports, Denise said the whole time she’s been on Loose Women she’s not argued once off-screen with any of her co-stars and needs it to stay that way.

Speaking in a candid new interview, the star said that if the environment became toxic, she would leave immediately, adding that at 65 she’s “too old” for drama.

“In the 21 years I’ve done this show, I have never, ever. ever had an actual argument with anybody on that show,” Denise revealed to Bella magazine.

Denise has been on Loose Women for the last 21 years ( 
Image:
ITV)
“I can go hammer and tongs with them on set, but nothing afterwards, if it was a toxic environment, I wouldn’t work there. I don’t need to. I’m 65, I don’t need the stress.”

She said: “I’d be out like a shot if I felt anxiety about going into a job,” adding that the workplace is “very supportive” both on and off-screen.When asked if she would be quitting Loose Women in 2024, Denise firmly said “no”, joking that they can’t “get rid” of her that easily.

Carol McGiffin became the latest big name to quit the show this year, and has taken a series of shots at producers since her exit.

Speaking about her dramatic exit, Carol told Women’s Own magazine: :No, I don’t miss Loose Women at all. My pronouns are P and Off. It’s just very woke and I can’t deal with the wokeness. That’s not why I am not there. I am not there because of other stuff.” She told the mag that she does miss her co-stars but ‘doesn’t miss being on TV’.

Mental health activist and campaigner Denise recently opened up about the show ‘snubbing’ her by never asking her to do the Halloween special.

Speaking on Loose Women on November 1, Denise’s co-star and pal Kaye Adams remarked: “It’s such a pleasure to be on that Halloween show,” Denise replied: “Yeah, it must be,” with Kaye firing back: “Shame they’ve never asked you!”

Justifying her being left out of the show again, Denise joked: “In 21 years, I’ve never done the Halloween show. I think it’s because I’m too pretty and, no matter how clever the team are, they could never make me look like a gargoyle as easily as they can with the others.”

Denise says Loose Women is a “supportive” workplce ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
More recently, Denise was forced to confirm she is alive and well, after a death hoax was started due to misinformation being spread from her Wikipedia page.

Reassuring fans she was in fact not dead, Denise took to X to clear up the confusion. She wrote: “I’m alive and well and about to watch the jungle”, before thanking the public for their concern.

Rylan Clarke had a hilarious response to the incident. On This Morning, Rylan, 35, spoke to Ruth Langsford to find out what was coming up on the day’s Loose Women. Ruth, 63, teased: “Find out why Denise went viral, yes viral, viral she’s been on the Internet and find out why at 12:30pm.”

Hilariously, Rylan quipped: “She’s alive!” as the camera then panned on Denise. He added: “Denise, we’re so happy you’re alive, darling!” with Denise sarcastically replying: “Hallelujah!” Rylan continued: “I thought we’d lost you, sweetheart!”