Loose Women’s Kaye Adams and Coleen Nolan share their experiences of workplace sexual harassment – but some viewers were not impressed with the advice they gave

Loose Women stars Kaye Adams and Coleen Nolan have opened up sexual harassment they faced from men in their early careers on today’s episode of Loose Women.

Coleen shared it was a “terrible time” for women when she was part of girl band The Nolans with her sisters at the height of their fame in the ’70s and ’80s. “You did get guys coming up and pinching your bum,” she revealed. Explaining how she dealt with it, the 58-year-old said: “I’d just turn around and go, ‘If you do that again, I’ll going to knock your head off mate!‘ I didn’t have to run somewhere and say, I want him fired.”

Kaye then detailed her experience when she was working as a young journalist, but said she dealt with unwanted advances slightly differently. She told the audience in the ITV studio: “There were a few occasions where older men did very much overstep the mark… and at 22 I just did not have the confidence at that point to turn around and say take a hike. They were my boss and I was scared that I would lose my job.”

Coleen said men would often come up and pinch her bum when she was in The Nolans ( 
Image:
ITV)
Viewers took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to share their own experiences with one saying: “I got loads of harassment at aged 18 in my first job. It would be nice to think that things have got better since those days #loosewomen.” Another said: “#loosewomen I was in a job in my 20s and one of the girls said the boss is a bit touchy feely so don’t be alone with him… as though this is normal and no one actually mentioned or took it further!”

But others were not impressed with Coleen’s comments that a man shouldn’t lose his job over certain workplace behaviours, with some branding her advice “dangerous” and “disappointing”. One viewer fumed: “Couldn’t find the controls to turn off Loose Women so I had to listen to Coleen Nolan telling us how men shouldn’t lose their jobs for slapping girls arses @loosewomen.”

Another chimed in: “Coleen claiming that it is extreme for someone to lose their job because of sexual assault/intimidation in the workplace is the reason it still happens. Very disappointing and dangerous attitude @ITV.”

While a third said: “@loosewomen what a shame you missed the opportunity to talk abut consent!! Can’t believe you turned it into the ‘we’ll all be scared to hug anyone’ crap. Internal misogyny is strong.”

New Loose Women panellist Olivia Attwood is proving a hit with viewers ( 
Image:
ITV)
The discussion arose from the Loose Women talking about employers offering mandatory consent classes in the wake of the Spanish FA World Cup kiss row, which saw a football chief kiss a female player on the lips without her consent. Wading into the debate, new Loose Women’s guest panellist Olivia Attwood said it wasn’t something that should be brought into the workplace and said: “Surely people should know [how to behave]. It’s a no brainer.

“The minute that footballer said, ‘I don’t feel comfortable, I don’t like it’. He should have issued an apology and the conversation ends there. Why is there even a debate with him saying, ‘I didn’t mean to cause offence’. But you did, so apologise or step down.”

Former Love Island star turned documentary maker Olivia made her Loose Women debut earlier this month and is already proving a hit with viewers. One wrote: “I really enjoyed Olivia on Loose Women today. You came over great.” Another said: “It was refreshing not hearing you swear. Still love you though.”