ITV MOMENT THAT STOPPED THE SHOW: Denise Welch’s Health Confession Leaves Kelly Brook Speechless
Denise Welch has been a staple of the Loose Women panel for more than a decade, and the star has been open about her health struggles, including her battle with depression
Denise Welch has candidly discussed a crippling episode of vertigo that has left her struggling with basic daily activities—and even left her Loose Women colleague Kelly Brook astounded. The 67-year-old panellist, who has been a cornerstone of the ITV daytime programme for over ten years, revealed the “horrible” reality of her ongoing struggle during an on-air conversation about health issues that many endure in silence.
During the Loose Women podcast, Denise began by describing just how disruptive the condition has proved to be. “Yeah, but the other thing that I’ve got — and Pauline, one of our makeup artists, has it as well — because my vertigo is here at the moment,” she explained.
“People think vertigo is just like fear of heights and everything. It is, but real vertigo is this spinning. So not only am I spinning all the time at night, which is just horrible.”
Her admission left Kelly clearly taken aback, as she confessed she hadn’t realised how debilitating the condition could be. “Oh, is that vertigo? Oh, I get that — I thought that was just anxiety,” she replied, amazed to discover that what she had been experiencing might be connected to the same ailment.
Denise went on to describe the daily impact it has on her life, explaining that even something as simple as lying down has become a carefully managed routine. “If I lie down at night, I have to do it very slowly,” she said, reports the Mirror.
“I’m conditioned to do it now. Turning to my left I’m all right. If I turn to my right, it’s… I can count on it — one, two, three, four, spin — and it’s like a roller coaster.”
The vertigo has also made travelling increasingly difficult. “What it means is that now, when I get in a car, especially electric cars, I am so sick,” she said.
“I’ve got my sickness tablets, but of course they make me drowsy, so then I’m moaning about being too drowsy. And I’ve got my beta blockers for the anxiety. I mean, honestly.”
For devoted viewers, Denise’s frankness comes as no shock. During her Loose Women journey, she has earned widespread acclaim for openly discussing her personal experiences and wellbeing, including her decades-long struggle with depression.
She has spoken publicly about experiencing episodes she once described as “the unwelcome visitor,” and has utilised her platform to tackle stigma surrounding mental health issues.
Last year, Denise confessed to the Loose Women panel that she hadn’t been well for the past couple of weeks and revealed her recent absence from the show was due to her depression making an “unwelcome” return. Denise said: “Yeah, so I had a really rough two weeks, which I’m still in a bit. I just did a podcast and a big article saying how I’ve been free for five years of clinical depression.
“Sadly, the unwelcome visitor paid me another visit, so I’ve not been well for a couple of weeks.”
Denise has also previously disclosed she has been diagnosed with ADHD. The star received her attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) diagnosis in 2023 after being encouraged to get tested by fellow panellist Nadia Sawalha.
She explained the diagnosis has helped her gain a clearer understanding of habits, challenges, and emotional patterns she had experienced since childhood. The condition, she revealed at the time, had impacted everything from her focus to how she handles stress.
