Speaking in a recent podcast episode, Janet Street-Porter detailed how the number of shows would be reduced to the “level it started”, but also had some encouraging words for fans

Janet Street-Porter opened up about the financial pressures facing ITV(Image: ITV)

Janet Street-Porter has opened up about the future of Loose Women and revealed that she plans to “bully” the boss of ITV Studios. Speaking on the Off Air with Jane and Fi podcast, the panellist shed light on the financial pressures facing ITV, adding that its advertising revenue had been “diminishing hugely”.

ITV announced in May that it would axe more than 220 jobs and impose cuts to popular shows like Loose Women and Lorraine as it sought to claw back what Janet described as a “massive amount” of savings.

When asked to discuss the “fate” of the show, Janet had some encouraging words for fans. She described how the number of shows had risen “inexorably” over the years and would be reduced back to the level it started on.

She confirmed the show would air for 30 weeks of the year (or 150 episodes) and revealed that she’d presented her case for the show to Kevin Lygo, the managing director of ITV Studios, whom she knows “very well.”

Janet had some encouraging words for Loose Women fans(Image: ITV)

Janet said: “So, I’ve said to him in no uncertain terms what I feel about it, which is that Loose Women performs a valuable service.

“It talks about things women are interested in, in a pretty straightforward way. It gives people a bit of a laugh in the middle of the day, doesn’t take itself too seriously.”

When asked if the show would “carry on”, she responded: “Yes, course it’s carrying on! Of course it’s carrying on. It’s carrying on for 30 weeks of next year and maybe more if I can bully Kevin Lygo into submission.” She added that the bullying was “metaphorically speaking”.

Following the ITV announcement, fellow panellist Nadia Sawalha described the cuts as “out of the blue” and “absolutely brutal” for people working on the daytime chat show.

Opening up on her YouTube channel at the time, Nadia said: “What’s been brutal, absolutely brutal, over the last week, honestly I feel tearful about it, is that hundreds of people… are going to be made redundant out of the blue, these are all the people behind the scenes that support us in every way.”

Janet described how the number of shows had risen “inexorably”(Image: ITV)

Meanwhile, reports have emerged this week that the broadcaster plans to step up its cost-cutting strategy further, adding an additional £15 million to the £30 million already announced.

ITV said that although the economic environment “remains uncertain,” the broadcaster can expect a “better outturn” for the full year 2025, noting that it was “driven by these cost efficiencies.”

Carolyn McCall, ITV chief executive, said: “ITV is now a leaner, more digital business in a strong position to compete and succeed in a changing market.

“We are on track to deliver our 2026 key financial targets, with sustained good growth in ITV Studios and ITVX coupled with strategic cost management as we reshape our cost base to reflect the dynamics of the industry in which we operate.”