Almost three decades on since the world was forced to bid a tragic farewell to the late Princess Diana, her former dance teacher, Anne Allan, has lifted the lid on on the royal’s battle with bulimia in her new book Dancing With Diana

Princess Diana suffered with bulimia for much of her royal life, with her troubles first starting shortly after her wedding (
Image: Getty)

Nearly 30 years since the world said a heartbreaking goodbye to Princess Diana, her former dance instructor, Anne Allan, has revealed the royal’s struggle with bulimia in her new book Dancing With Diana.

In an excerpt from the book published in People on Wednesday, September 4, Allan recalls how Diana confided in her about her battle with bulimia. “Her head dropped and, unable to look me in the eye, she said, ‘I am so ashamed, Anne, but I need to tell you that I suffer from bulimia,’” Allan wrote. “Her shame was evidently painful for her.”

According to Allan, Diana apologised profusely for not revealing her struggles sooner as she opened up about how the illness had been slowly consuming her life.

“Diana explained that her bulimia had started when she had started attending important functions, particularly dinners where she had to sit down to eat,” Allan remembered. “Meeting so many people was terrifying to her and the feeling that she was being judged with every move she made or how she looked or what she said caused her to feel totally inadequate,” reports the Express.

Princess Diana’s battle with bulimia started when she joined the royal family and needed to attend high profile meetings ( 
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(Image: Getty))

READ MORE: Ian McKellen says he’s ‘definitely’ on Prince Harry’s side amid Royal feud

“Understanding the disease was the way forward, I told her, adding that finding ways not to judge herself would come in time,” Allan penned.

Diana first publicly acknowledged her fight with bulimia in 1992, during recordings for Andrew Morton’s explosive biography about her life.

The Princess had once revealed in a recording, “The bulimia started the week after we got engaged and would take nearly a decade to overcome. My husband put his hand on my waistline and said: ‘Oh, a bit chubby here, aren’t we? ‘ and that triggered off something in me -and the Camilla thing.”

It wasn’t until three years later that Diana would publicly acknowledge her struggle with an eating disorder during a candid 1995 interview on BBC’s Panorama.

“I had bulimia for a number of years. And that’s like a secret disease,” she shared. “You inflict it upon yourself because your self-esteem is at a low ebb, and you don’t think you’re worthy or valuable. You fill your stomach up four or five times a day-some do it more – and it gives you a feeling of comfort. It’s like having a pair of arms around you, but it’s temporarily, temporary. Then you’re disgusted at the bloatedness of your stomach, and then you bring it all up again.”

An off the cuff remark by then-Prince Charles reportedly sparked Diana’s battle with Bulimia ( 
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(Image: Getty))
Throughout her prolonged fight with the devastating condition, Diana chose to keep the Royal family in the dark due to feelings of shame.

“You have to know that when you have bulimia you’re very ashamed of yourself and you hate yourself – and people think you’re wasting food – so you don’t discuss it with people,” Diana explained. “The thing about bulimia is your weight always stays the same, whereas with anorexia you visibly shrink. So you can pretend the whole way through. There’s no proof.”

Princess Diana tied the knot with Charles, who was then the Prince of Wales, in 1981. The couple had two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, during their tumultuous marriage. However, a devastating scandal emerged when it was revealed that Charles, now the King, had an affair with his ex-lover and current wife, Queen Camilla.

Deeply hurt by the infidelity, Diana decided to part ways with Charles and they officially divorced in 1996. Tragically, just a year later, the Princess died in a car crash in Paris.

 

Both Prince William and Prince Harry reunited yesterday to attend the funeral of their uncle Lord Robert Fellowes – and a royal expert says one brother would have been more worried than the other about seeing each other

Princes William and Harry pictured together in 2021 (
Image: Getty Images)

Their bitter feud has raged for years – but Prince William and Prince Harry have had a secret reunion.

Yesterday, they were both at a church in Norfolk for the funeral of their late uncle Lord Robert Fellowes. Harry flew from the US to join William at the service at St Mary’s Church in Snettisham, Norfolk, on Thursday. It is the first time they have attended the same event since their father King Charles’ Coronation last May – although on that day, they did not sit together and weren’t spotted speaking. And it appears it was much of the same yesterday, with the brothers making a discreet appearance, sitting apart at the back of the church.

The pair have been embroiled in a bitter feud ( 
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POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

A local resident told The Sun that the brothers kept their distance and did not speak to each other. The funeral comes just days before the anniversary of the death of William and Harry’s mother Princess Diana. It was 27 years ago tomorrow that she died at the age of 36 following a car crash in Paris. And royal biographer Ingrid Seward told the Mirror Harry’s attendance is exactly what his late mother would have done – and it would have been William more worried to see his younger brother.

She explained: “Diana would have certainly flown the 5,500 miles from California to Norfolk for a family funeral. Harry is close to Robert Fellowes’ widow Jane. She and sister Sarah come to all of Harry’s UK events and were at Archie’s christening. The thought of having to see his estranged brother would not have worried Harry as much as the other way around. I am certain they were civil to each other. A funeral is not the time to settle scores. Or indeed a time to make up as Harry is well aware.”

William and Harry with their late mother Princes Diana ( 
Image:
UK Press via Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Ingrid believes Diana would have been heartbroken at the fact her sons have a fractured relationship – and her wish for them before she died may have to wait a little longer given the fact they did not appear to talk at the service yesterday.

She added: “Twenty-seven years after that fatal crash in Paris in August 1997 we still think of Diana. So of course, do William and Harry. They both talk about her and Harry says he knows Diana would have been proud of him moving to California and leaving royal life behind. It is after all, what she wanted to do herself. But she didn’t, as she was afraid of losing access to her boys if she moved so far away.

“What she wouldn’t have liked is the deepening estrangement between the two brothers. William has reportedly let it be known he would not even contemplate Harry’s presence at his Coronation when the time comes.

“That is fighting talk. It illustrates how much Harry has hurt his brother by revealing their personal disagreements in his autobiography Spare. The book is due out in paperback at the end of October as a sad reminder of the accusations of who did what to whom.

“Diana always said she wanted her boys to be there for each other. She told them to promise her, ‘they would always be each other’s best friends. And never let anyone come between you’ At the time of her death, she had no reason to believe otherwise. But Diana’s most ardent wish will not be fulfilled – not yet anyway.”

Denise Welch told her Loose Women co-star Kaye Adams she gets criticised for posting photos of herself in her swimsuit as she stuck up for women in their sixties

Loose Women’s Denise Welch has hit back after getting ‘flack’ over her unedited swimsuit snaps.

The Coronation Street star, 64, often shares photos of herself looking gorgeous on holiday – but says she gets slammed online for doing so.

Speaking to Kaye Adams on her How to be 60 podcast, Denise said: “I get so much flack still posing in swimsuits at 64, but I don’t care because, you know, if one person says, ‘I was feeling really low on myself and I saw you in a swimsuit and you’re in your sixties..’

“And you know, I don’t filter them – partly because I don’t know how to.

“I don’t want anybody to put us in a box and say, ‘You can’t wear a bikini at 64, you can’t do this at 64.’”

Denise also stuck up for Countdown star Carol Vorderman, who regularly regales fans with sultry selfies, aged 62.

The actress continued: “You’ve got Carol Vorderman breaking the mould and saying that she’s not bothered about finding love.

Loose Women’s Denise Welch has hit back after getting ‘flack’ over her unedited swimsuit snaps ( 
Image:
Instagram)

The actress said her photos help people to ‘feel confident’
“She’s very happy, she’s not turning anybody, she has several people that she sees… Good for her!

“The only people that are going to criticise that are people that are stuck with boring old [partners] they have been married to for years.”

Denise is not one to hold back on social media and often gives it back to fans – both barrels.

She stuck up for women in their sixties ( 
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Instagram)

She looks incredible! ( 
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Instagram/ @denise_welch)
Recently, she was criticised by a viewer for hogging the spotlight during the discussions on Loose Women.

The mum-of-one hit back after being branded “bitter” as they accused the panellist of trying to “take the stage” during the discussions.

Denise took to Twitter to react to the furious fan, who said she couldn’t bare to watch the mum-of-one on the programme.

They said: “You are a very bitter, angry women Denise, anyone watching Loose Women today will have seen this, you always butt in, try and take the stage with your opinions, why you are still on here I really don’t know.

Denise praised Carol Vorderman for sharing her sultry selfies ( 
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Instagram/ Carol Vorderman)
“When you are on the programme we record and skip passed every time you speak.”

However, reposting the tweet, Denise said: “I’m gutted Jo. You seem like my kind of person as well,” along with a string of laughing emojis. (sic)

Fans of the TV star joined in on the debate as they defended the actress’ reply.

One teased: “Such a shame – sounds like it could have been such a beautiful friendship – and now you won’t even get so much as a Christmas card.”

Loose Women stars are embroiled in a row over pay behind the scenes of the ITV chat show – and some of the show’s panellists have even threatened to leave the programme if things aren’t fixed

Loose Women stars are embroiled in a pay row behind the scenes, with some reportedly threatening to quit.

Some presenters and bosses at ITV have been in talks regarding their tax situations for several weeks, sources say.

The Mirror can reveal three big show names have told bosses they will walk away if the situation is not fixed.

It comes as ITV has been hit by changes by HMRC to tax legislation.

It is now up to ITV to decide whether a role is employed or self-employed for tax purposes from April 2021.

It is understood some panellists on the daytime show work freelance, declaring themselves self-employed.

Loose Women stars are embroiled in a pay row behind the scenes ( 
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Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
But now some have been told to go on a PAYE contract – meaning that instead of corporation tax at 19%, they will have to pay 40% on earnings between £50,271 and £150,000, plus National Insurance.

A source behind the scenes said: “They have all been self-employed for decades. Their accountants are saying no, they are self-employed… and are not going to go on PAYE.”

Our mole added: “They’re so strict about it and we’re talking about the big players.”

ITV sources say the broadcaster has communicated the change to all those concerned across the channel and that assessments are done on a “case-by-case basis”.

A change over contracts has sparked an fallout behind the scenes ( 
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Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Presenter Eamonn Holmes is currently challenging a tribunal ruling that he should have been treated as an ITV employee for tax reasons when he hosted This Morning.

He said in 2018 that HMRC “wanted 10 years of backdated National Insurance” as they said his former jobs “were staff jobs rather than self-employed”.

And he claimed the row was making him ill.

He said: “In 2018, they [HMRC] came knocking at my door, claiming my former jobs at Sky News, GMTV, Channel 5 and This Morning were staff jobs rather than self-employed. They wanted 10 years’ backdated National Insurance.

Eamonn Holmes is challenging a tribunal ruling that he should have been treated as an ITV employee for tax reasons from his time on This Morning ( 
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Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

“To go back a decade to try and get the money that you’ve already spent?

“I don’t care how much you earn, you spend it. It was gone.” Other telly stars such as Gary Lineker and Adrian Chiles have previously been told by the taxman to go on PAYE.

Panellists on hit talk show Loose Women include Kaye Adams, Linda Robson, Judi Love, Denise Welch, Janet Street-Porter and Coleen Nolan.

An ITV spokeswoman said: “ITV complies with HMRC legislation when assessing the tax status of individuals. ITV will not comment on or disclose any individual’s specific circumstances.”

After Vanessa Feltz and long-time beau Ben Ofoedu called off their engagement, with Vanessa being left ‘extremely sad and disappointed’ by the outcome, Ruth Langsford has sung her praises for being so open about her heartbreak

Ruth Langsford has said her heart is breaking for her good friend Vanessa Feltz who recently called it quits on her 16-year relationship with fiancé Ben Ofoedu.

During Monday’s instalment of Loose Women, Ruth, 62, praised Vanessa, 60, for being so open about her shock split from Ben after she released a video on Instagram over the weekend explaining why she and Ben called off their engagement and ended their 16-year romance.

In the tear-jerking video, Vanessa alluded to infidelity as she insisted that once the trust is gone, the relationship is over.

Ben and Vanessa have been together since 2005 and make regular appearances together both on-screen and in magazines, but Vanessa has now admitted she is devastated.

Explaining her three-week absence from social media, Vanessa said: “I had thought it might take a bit longer before this came out, because it’s a lot to deal with – a shock like this takes some adjusting to – but I am extremely sad and disappointed that my 16-year relationship with Ben is over.”

Loose Women star Ruth sang Vanessa’s praises ( 
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ITV)
Discussing Vanessa’s brave decision to share her heartache so publicly, Loose Women star Ruth sang Vanessa’s praises.

“I have to say, Vanessa is a friend of mine and my heart is breaking for her. It’s hard enough when you go through a breakup, but when you have to do it so publicly it’s so hard,” Ruth said.

“I think she has taken ownership of this though and she’s poured her heart out on social media, but it is true, once the trust is gone, you can never get it back.”

Confirming their split to The Sun on Sunday, Vanessa said: “Who knew I’d be single at 60? However, ladies, it’s onwards and upwards and I firmly believe that the best is yet to come.”

Vanessa and Ben have split after 16-years together ( 
Image:
Getty Images for Orion Books)

Vanessa said she was devastated by the break up ( 
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Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
She tried to stay positive, saying: “I hear that Kylie Minogue is single again, so I’m in good company — if she wants to hit the town, hook me up.”

Ben is thought to have now moved out of their £3.5million in St John’s Wood, North London.

The pair met back in 2005, with Vanessa having divorced Michael Kurer five years earlier following cheating allegations.

Ben popped the question a year after first meeting, but Vanessa had shared her worries about marrying him.

Vanessa said she was disappointed in Ben ( 
Image:
PA)

The star took to her Instagram to reveal her split ( 
Image:
vanessafeltz/Instagram)She admitted her divorce from her doctor ex-husband made her “wary of getting married again.”

Speaking to OK! magazine, the TV presenter said her split from the father of her children derailed her “to the most terrific extent” and has made her “reluctant” to embark on a second marriage.

The BBC Radio 2 host married Michael Kurer in 1985 and the former couple welcomed daughters Allegra and Saskia into the world before their divorce in 2000.

The Loose Women panel discussed Vanessa’s engagement split ( 
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ITV)
The split occurred when former Celebrity Big Brother contestant Vanessa discovered the doctor was cheating on her via newspaper reports.

“I was so shocked and broken-hearted and rocked to my absolute core,” the mum-of-two told the publication.

“It makes you wary of getting married again. The marriage seemed to be so disposable – it could just be chucked down the toilet in 10 seconds flat, even though I didn’t want it to be.”

Loose Women continues tomorrow at 12.30pm on ITV One.

Discussing disgraced pop star Gary Glitter on Loose Women on Monday, panellists Ruth Langsford, Dame Kelly Holmes, Janet Street Porter, and Linda Robson all made suggestions about Glitter’s future in the UK

Linda Robson was awarded a large round of applause during Monday’s instalment of Loose Women when she suggested that Gary Glitter should be ‘chemically castrated’ amid the ongoing controversy after he was released from prison.

The disgraced pop star, who had a string of chart hits in the 1970s, was jailed in 2015 for sexually abusing three schoolgirls.

Glitter, whose real name is Paul Gadd, left HMP The Verne – a low-security category C jail in Portland, Dorset – on Friday after eight years behind bars.

The 78-year-old was moved to a bail hostel in a suburban area behind electric gates – where staff have reportedly been delivering food to his room.

The bail hostel, which has a garden with football posts, a gym and a smoking area, is reportedly near 10 different schools.

Linda Robson was awarded a large round of applause during Monday’s instalment of Loose Women ( 
Image:
ITV)
Glitter received a standard determinate or fixed-term sentence from a court for sexually abusing three girls, meaning he is automatically released on licence at the halfway point of his sentence.

Discussing the controversy on Loose Women on Monday, panellists Ruth Langsford, Dame Kelly Holmes, Janet Street Porter, and Linda Robson all agreed that they were disgusted by the fact Glitter is now staying in a location which is so close to so many schools.

Suggesting what should be done with someone like Glitter, who was released from prison before finishing his sentence, Dame Kelly insisted that the disgraced pop star should be ‘thrown back behind bars’ again.

Dame Kelly insisted that the disgraced pop star should be ‘thrown back behind bars’ again ( 
Image:
ITV)
Meanwhile, Linda said that she would love nothing more than to know that Glitter had been chemically castrated.

Chemical castration, sometimes called medical castration, refers to the use of chemicals or drugs to stop sex hormone production.

While many people know about this process as a way to stop sex offenders, medical castration is used as a treatment for tumors that feed on sex hormones.

“How can we know that he’s released and he’s not going to re-offend? I know that the prisons are overcrowded and it costs £44,000 for a year for every prisoner, but why can they not send them to a remote island,” Linda suggested.

Gary Glitter was sentenced to prison in 2015 ( 
Image:
PA)

Glitter was big in the 80s ( 
Image:
WireImage)
“Send them somewhere like where Tom Hanks was in Castaway, where they can fend for themselves and look after each other and keep away from all of our kids and families.

“All of them should be put somewhere. Once you have got that in you, to do something like that to you a young child or a young person, they should be chemically castrated.”

Following Linda’s suggestions, the audience erupted into a loud round of applause.

Glitter was was at the height of his fame when he preyed on his vulnerable victims who thought no one would believe their claims over that of a celebrity.

Rhys Connah, who played Ryan Cawood in Happy Valley, appeared on Loose Women to discuss Sunday night’s gripping finale of the BBC drama and reveal if a fourth series could be in the works

Rhys Connah addressed speculation there will be a fourth series of Happy Valley during his first live TV interview earlier today.

The teenage actor, who played Ryan Cawood in the BBC crime drama, appeared on Loose Women to discuss Sunday night’s gripping finale and reveal all about the future of Sally Wainwright’s popular creation.

The 16-year-old actor appeared on Monday’s instalment of the ITV talk show looking a little anxious – with viewers rushing to social media to praise the young star during the broadcast.

The teen clutched his branded mug as Ruth Langsford thanked him for choosing their show for his first ever TV interview, telling him they were “honoured” to have him there.

Rhys explained that he’d taken the day off college to appear on the panel and that he was dreading going back in to his mates tomorrow who were sure to poke fun at him.

Rhys Connah, who played Ryan Cawood, took centre-stage on Loose Women today
“I’m not looking forward to it. I know it’s going to be a lot of screenshots tomorrow,” he smiled nervously.

Talk then turned to if Rhys will ever reprise his role of Ryan in the BBC series.

“Sadly, there are no plans. I’m very sorry everyone,” the teenager actor revealed live on Loose Women – dashing the dreams of millions of Happy Valley fans.

Happy Valley fans watched Rhys grow up on the BBC drama ( 
Image:
BBC/Lookout Point)
Those tuned in to the ITV show today took to Twitter to swoon over the apprehensive star, praising him for his professionalism.

“What a lovely young man Rhys Connah is and he did brilliantly there considering that was his 1st ever tv interview,” one wrote.

“What a lovely, down to earth guy is #RhysConnah I think he has a very bright future ahead of him,” another penned.

“#RhysConnah was such a likeable character and an amazing actor. Hope he has a fantastic career ahead of him,” a third praised.

Rhys was the focal point of the main storyline throughout the final season
Rhys was just eight years old when he first appeared on the hit BBC crime drama, as season one aired back in 2014.

And the youngster made such an impression on creator Sally Wainwright, she waited eight years for a break between seasons two and three in order for actor Connah to grow older and then return to the story.

She previously told how she wanted character Ryan to be old enough to go places alone and make decisions about his life – including whether he wanted a relationship with his rapist father Tommy Lee Royce (James Norton).

He told the Loose Women panel how his mum would allow him to run downstairs to watch his scenes on TVRhys was the focal point of the main storyline throughout the final season, playing the grandson of Sarah Lancashire’s character Catherine Cawood.

He told the Loose Women panel how his mum would allow him to run downstairs to watch his scenes on TV before running back upstairs to wait again in order to shield him from the harrowing storylines.

The teen actor has been involved in some disturbing and tense moments since his acting debut in 2014, mostly thanks to his character being the son of the show’s villain, Tommy Lee, who raped Catherine’s daughter Becky and got her pregnant.

*Loose Women airs weekdays on ITV from 12.30pm

Loose Women panellist Kaye Adams has opened up on why she decided to get a tattoo dedicated to her mum after turning 60, and how she had a ‘wobble’ the night before getting the ink

Loose Women star Kaye Adams had vowed never to get a tattoo until a favourite saying of her late mum’s whenever she was asked her age – Over Twenty One – seemed the perfect way to celebrate turning 60.

But the TV and radio presenter admits her mother would have been horrified – if also just a wee bit chuffed – at the inking in her honour.

Kaye explains: “Although I’ve done it for her, the irony is she’d have absolutely killed me and told me to act my age!

“She is not going to be looking down and smiling, she’ll be shaking her fist, but I think it would be fake outrage and deep down she’d be proud too.”

The former Strictly Come Dancing star caused a stir on Instagram when she posted a photo of the tattoo.

Kaye Adams with her partner Ian, their daughters and her parents, Duncan and Cathie ( 
Image:
ITV)
Speaking about her decision, she says: “Every year, until I was 59, I said never, ever would I get a tattoo. I’m not a fan and I wouldn’t get a random one just for the hell of it – a bumble bee, a dolphin.

“But Over Twenty One suddenly popped into my head.”

Kaye was close to her parents, dad Duncan, who died in 2017, and mum Cathie, who passed away in 2018.

She says: “I’ve got one of my mum’s rings and it’s lovely, but it’s just not me. I sometimes look at it and feel quite guilty and almost disloyal and wish that I felt more of a connection with it.

“So, I guess the tattoo is a jewellery substitute – it’s very much a real reminder of Mum and makes me smile.”

Kaye showing off her new tattoo ( 
Image:
DAILY MIRROR)

The Loose Women star turned 60 in December ( 
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Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Kaye had the tattoo done on her left forearm in her home town ­Glasgow, four weeks after turning the big 6-0 on December 28.

“I wanted it to look like a nice squiggle from a distance,” she explains. “I looked for a card from my mum to copy her handwriting. I couldn’t find anything right, but it’s still my mum’s joined-up handwriting style.

“The woman who did it couldn’t have been better, because it was so unlike a tattoo studio. This place had a piano in the waiting room and lovely prints.”

Even so, Kaye almost backed out the night before. She says: “I had a real wobble. I woke up in the night and thought, ‘Oh my God, what am I doing, this is ludicrous!’

“But then I thought that it’s good to do different things. I don’t want get stuck as I get older, I want to be able to change.”

Kaye, who is Loose Women’s longest presenter, began her own podcast How to be 60 last year. In it, she chats to famous names, from Robson Green and Denise Welch to Ken Bruce and Linda Robson, about how they dealt with the milestone birthday.

She says: “I set it up in anticipation, but it still works, because OK, I am now officially 60, but turning 60 is a journey in how you approach this stage of your life, it’s an ongoing conversation.”

Kaye also took part on Strictly last year, but was the first celebrity to be voted off the BBC One show alongside her dance partner Kai Widdrington.

Kaye on Strictly ( 
Image:
PA)“I knew I’d struggle,” she reflects. “Ironically, I probably didn’t struggle as much as if I’d done it when I was 40, because then I’d have felt more of a pressure to be sexy, whereas doing it at the age I did, nobody would have that expectation.

“But it did knock my confidence for a while and I’m never going to put myself in that position again.

“[BBC One reality game] The Traitors is fantastic and I thought if they did a celebrity version, I’d love to do it, but I now realise I absolutely wouldn’t. It’s not natural to put ­yourself out for judgment by people who don’t know you.”

Kaye is filming a documentary for 100 Years of the BBC, but it is ITV ’s Loose Women for which she is best known.

Kaye early in her career, interviewing Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher ( 
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collect)
“I really enjoy it and while it might give me up, I can’t imagine giving it up,” she smiles. “The show is about talking and sharing experiences and opinions. That’s never going to go out of fashion, so I don’t see any reason why Loose Women wouldn’t be there in 2050.”

There are rumours of backstage rows between presenters, but Kaye insists they are hugely exaggerated.

“We are constantly being asked – have we fallen out, who won’t work with who?” she says. “It’s tedious and keeps us in this mindset that women can’t get on, women are bitchy. It’s a harmful ­narrative and it’s not true.”

Her media career began at Central Television in the 1980s when she bagged an interview with then Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Kaye with her Loose Women co-stars ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
She was only 26 when she landed a role on ­Scotland Today. Although a regular on our screens, she admits her younger self would have been ­disappointed she didn’t go on to even greater success.

“I was very ambitious and wanted to conquer the world and be the biggest thing ever,” she says. “Something like Newsnight would have been a real aspiration and ­something like Oprah Winfrey’s show.

“But what you see at 25 as being the pinnacle isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. It’s not about specifics anymore, it’s about doing projects I find exciting and working with people that I enjoy working with.”

Having reached 60, one of Kaye’s ambitions is to carve out more time for herself, but she says it is not easy.

Kaye Adam’s late mum Cathie ( 
Image:
kayeadamsofficial / Instagram)
“I lost the clear distinction between work and time away from work years ago,” she says. “Mum and Dad never had it either – they ran their own haulage business – so the prospect of working less is hugely daunting.”

Kaye, who lives with her partner, tennis coach Ian Campbell, and their daughters Charly, 20, and Bonnie, 16, also wonders what impact it would have. “I think that will be huge for my ­relationship with Ian, although I don’t think it will be huge for Ian, because he’s got a lovely life,” she reflects.

“If I suddenly become more available, that’s not going to be fair on him. I’m usually in London a couple of days a week. He’s been wonderful about that, but he’s created his own life.

“We do thankfully still enjoy each other’s company, so we’re not like ­flatmates, but he’s not sitting waiting for me to come home. He’s got lots of things going on.”

Studying Spanish is one ambition as is learning the piano, having bought a baby grand when she was 24. “I said at the time, ‘In my retirement I’m going to learn to play the piano’,” she laughs.

Until this year Kaye obsessively hid her age, even lying about it to her own daughter. She believes she inherited her age phobia from her mum, but is glad to have finally come clean.

Kaye says she’s less of a prisoner ‘of my own insecurities’ ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

“I feel less of a prisoner of my own insecurities, so that feels like quite a positive thing,” she says.

“And because I’m not so obsessed with the number, it does make me focus more on getting the most out of day-to-day life.

“Like the tattoo, I really hope there will be other things that I do that are out of character or unpredictable.”

Kaye Adams: How to be 60 is ­available on all podcast providers.

Loose Women star Denise Welch has sparked fury amongst viewers of the show over comments she made about Nicola Bulley during the ITV programme

Loose Women star Denise Welch has sparked fury amongst fans of the ITV show over comments she made about Nicola Bulley.

The search for the 45-year-old missing mum has entered its 14th day and there is still no clear proof of what happened to her. She vanished while on a dog walk on January 27 after dropping off her two young children at school in St Michaels on Wyre, Lancashire.

Her phone was found on a bench overlooking the river and Willow had been left wandering nearby. Investigators are keeping an open mind about what might of happened, with speculation growing day by day on social media.

Denise Welch sparked fury with her comments ( 
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Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
Police have urged people not to take the laws in their own hands or speculate on social media after her disappearance, but during a chat on Loose Women, panellist Denise sparked fury with her comments, as fans questioned why.

Speaking about the case, she said: “This is the problem, we’ve created globally all of these armchair detectives. And I am partly responsible because I’ve made no bones of the fact that in my mind I’m the ‘Crime Minister’.

“You know I’m obsessed with true life crime. When I was young and you had the news at 6pm and a couple of newspapers, all of these things went on and you didn’t know very much about it. But now we see it played out in real life and Lincoln and I are responsible for it because we know now, well we think we know, a lot about forensics.”

Nicola Bulley hasn’t been seen since January 27 ( 
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PA)
Denise admits she was guilty of doing the same the other day, and speculated herself.

“I was guilty of the other day, screaming at the television: ‘Why are people walking along that area? That should still be a crime scene. That should still be evidence.’ Then I thought hang on a minute, there’s obviously a reason why they haven’t kept that,” she added.

“But you think that you know because you watch so many crime shows.”

Frustrated viewers took to social media to fume over the comments.

Talk on Loose Women turned to the missing Nicola Bulley ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
“So ‘don’t speculate about this case’ has been what ITV has said ALL Morning all throughout their programmes, while they sit there doing exactly that – speculating,” one wrote, as another added: “Why are Loose Women allowed to talk about it and we’re not?”
Another wrote: ” “Also there has to be some speculation; how is Nicola going to be found if theories are being ruled out because they make people uncomfortable to consider #LooseWomen.”

Lead investigator Superintendent Sally Riley previously urged people not to “take the law into their own hands” or “do anything that would thwart” the investigation as wild speculation has grown on social media on what might have happened to Nicola.

Urging people not to speculate, Supt Riley added: “Nor is it helpful if people, particularly if they come from outside the area, take it upon themselves to take the law into their own hands by trying to, for example, break into empty property.”

Saira Khan was a Loose Women pannelist on the ITV chat show from 2015 until 2021 – when she shocked fans as she announced she was quitting the daytime programme

Saira Khan was a fan favourite on the Loose Women panel as she appeared on the ITV daytime chat show with her strong opinions and eloquent ways of debating tricky topics.

Viewers of the show were left surprised when Saira, 52, announced her decision to quit the ITV daytime show in 2021.

At the time, Saira claimed she made the difficult decision after the coronavirus pandemic sparked her to reassess her priorities.

In her column with the Mirror, Saira explained the pandemic “certainly made me assess my priorities, values and how I want to move forward with my life”.

However, since leaving Saira has continued to spill on her time on the show and her reasons for leaving.

Saira is set to join GB News with Eamonn Holmes ( 
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Instagram)

Saira has been honest about her reasons for quitting Loose Women ( 
Image:
Dave Benett/Getty Images)
Saira is preparing to join Eamonn Holmes on his GB News Breakfast show and will co-host the programme every Monday and Tuesday with former This Morning star Eamonn, 63.

Eamonn announced the news as he posted a photo of the pair smiling widely and wrote: ” Your Mon/Tues line up on GB Breakfast.

“Looking forward to hooking up with one of my best friends Saira Khan.

“We will be your presenting duo. Expect the unexpected 6 – 9.30 am,” he teased.

As Saira gears up for her new role, we take a look at the reasons why she left Loose Women…

‘Life changing’ decision

After claiming the pandemic spurred her to throw in the towel in her column with the Mirror, Saira said her time on Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins also sparked her to make the “life changing” decision.

Saira’s time on Celeb: SAS Who Dares Wins sparked her ‘life changing’ decision ( 
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Channel 4)
Explaining her reason for leaving the show, Saira said SAS: Who Dares Wins taught her to “depend upon herself”.

She told The Sun : “I did take big drastic steps. I left Loose Women and, interestingly, Andrea McLean left Loose Women after doing SAS. It changes your life. You realise you’ve got to cut through the s**t and start living.

“When you’re stripped of everything as a naked woman all you have to depend upon is yourself.

“That’s very telling, very strong and most people will never experience that.”

‘Toxic’ row and OnlyFans claims

In October last year, Saira claimed she quit the show after bosses tried to make her join OnlyFans, which is a subscription site where people share adult content to their paid followers.

Saira said the “shocking” request from bosses was the final straw in what she alleges was a string of desperate bids to get publicity for the ITV programme as ratings slipped.

Saira claimed she got a ‘shocking’ request from the show’s staff

She claimed how she was also asked to have a mould made of her vagina for a Body Stories campaign.

The TV star told the Mirror: Saira said: “The straw that broke the camel’s back was when one of the young producers was sent running after me to ask whether I would be prepared to open an OnlyFans account”

“To say I was shocked was an understatement,” Saira added. “I could see she herself was mortified to ask me. I replied, ‘You’re asking an Asian woman who has a husband and kids and comes from a Muslim family to open an OnlyFans account?’

“She said, ‘It’s just on your social media you’ve been posting images in your underwear and we thought if you could go undercover to see the kind of response you get from men, it would make a great story’.

Saira said she felt ‘humiliated’ by the request
“There and then, I knew my time was up on the show. I felt humiliated, angry, disappointed and like fodder.”

However, a spokesperson for Loose Women denied the claims. They said: “We strongly refute all of these claims. Duty of care is of paramount importance for all of our panellists. Saira left the panel almost two years ago and we wish her well.”

A source added: “Loose Women Investigates is a strand which has seen reports into a range of topics. Sites such as OnlyFans could always potentially be the subject of an investigation. The Body Stories campaign tackled the taboo of vagina dysmorphia back in 2017. Saira was not involved in this campaign.

“We were told Saira was leaving to focus on her ‘businesses and online’ and that ‘she has nothing but good things to say about the show’.

“We are therefore surprised to hear these claims.”

Tensions between the Loose Women

After leaving the show, Saira revealed the panellists aren’t as friendly as they appear on screen.

When asked who out of the Loose Women panel she’d stay friends with, Saira said: “You make friends with some people, you tolerate some people, and some people you just have to do the job with.”

Saira has hinted at a feud with some fellow co-stars ( 
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ITV)

The TV star hasn’t spilled on whom she doesn’t get along with ( 
Image:
Getty Images Europe)
But, she deflected when grilled on names, replying: “I’m not going to go into the nitty gritty there now. There are some friends, people I will be close to because we get each other.

“And there are some I really don’t miss at all, who I was just like, ‘I just have to tolerate you to do the job.’”

Saira went on: “You have to be professional about it. You can’t pretend that everyone is going to be your best friend. Especially on a show with different opinions, you’re not going to tolerate everybody’s opinion.

“That’s fine. That’s not a problem, just do it with respect and you have to be open minded.”

Saira doesn’t follow Nadia Sawalha on social media ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)
She added: “Sometimes I’d go in with an opinion and someone would say something different to me and I’d think “Do you know what I never saw it from that point of view!’”

Following her comments, it was revealed Saira didn’t follow Nadia Sawalha or Kaye Adams.

She also added in a chat: “It was a mixture of things. Firstly, I’d outgrown the programme. There were some women that I just thought, “I’ve got to just tolerate you to do the job and in real life you wouldn’t be my friend.”

“They’d say the same about me. Plus, I shared a lot about myself on that show – my abuse, adoption, arranged marriage and a lot of relationship stuff. You don’t get a lot of thanks for that. My family hasn’t asked to be related to someone famous but I felt like I was putting them into a precarious situation.”

Online trolling

Saira also revealed how the trolling on social media was a motivation for leaving the programme.

Saira was subjected to cruel trolling while on Loose Women ( 
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ITV)
The former panelist previously said: “You’re on there discussing a subject with your friends in a very innocent way, but the amount of trolling you get online is horrendous.

“It just becomes toxic for women. It’s a show for women but I don’t feel like it empowered me.”

After walking away Saira revealed she was subjected to much less trolling as she said: “Yes, 100%. I feel much more confident. I feel like on my social media platforms they know me, they get me.

“I’m glowing because I’ve removed myself from the situation that I didn’t want to be in. If you can’t do that by the age of 50, then that’s nobody else’s fault but your own.

“Those women on the telly, they’re happy and that’s perfect for them, but it became too toxic for me and I had to remove myself.”