Loose Women’s most controversial exits following Carol McGiffin’s break from daytime show

The show has welcomed a lot of famous faces over the years (Picture: ITV)

The Loose Women panel have been rocked by another departure after Carol McGiffin hints at why she’s been absent from the hit daytime show.

For more than two decades, the TV broadcaster has been a regular on the ITV programme, frequently stirring up debate among her fellow panellists with her divisive views.

The 63-year-old host explained that her time on the show has come to an end due to her ‘unjust’ contract.

‘The problem was, ITV were insisting, for the first time since I went back in 2018, that if I wanted to carry on doing the show, I would have to sign a contract that was totally unjust and unworkable for me, so I had to say ‘no thanks,’” she wrote in Best magazine.

‘No one in their right mind would have signed that contract,’ she added. ‘And I can’t see a way back from it.’

An ITV spokesperson said in a statement sent to Metro.co.uk: ‘ITV will not comment on or disclose details of individual contracts but all ITV contracts comply with the required employment and HMRC legislation.’

Despite Carol receiving support from co-stars Denise Welch and Brenda Edwards, the show has dealt with a lot of famous faces controversially leaving the show, so here’s some of the most notorious moments to date.

Jamelia

Singer Jamelia Niela Davis was reportedly axed from Loose Women in 2016 after her comments on plus size fashion caused outrage.

Her comments came as part of a discussion about overweight teenagers, with Jamelia saying she does not believe shops should be facilitating an unhealthy lifestyle.

The singer said on the programme: ‘I don’t believe stores should stock clothes below or above a certain weight. They should be made to feel uncomfortable when they go in and can’t find a size.’

After being hit with accusations of body shaming Jamelia tweeted: ‘Never waste your time trying to explain, to people committed to misunderstanding you.’

Jamelia apologised for causing offence – but stands by her remarks (Picture: ITV)

The 42-year-old appeared on Good Morning Britain the following day to clarify her statement.

She said: ‘Knowing that I made people question themselves and their choices really did upset me and all I can do is apologise for that but I do stand by what I said.’

A source told The Sun: ‘The show is often close to the bone but those comments were the final straw.’

A spokesperson said at the time: ‘Jamelia is currently working on other projects for ITV Daytime including some hair and beauty features for This Morning.’

Saira Khan

Saira Khan alleges she was asked by ITV to join OnlyFans as part of a Loose Women investigation (Picture: Rex)

TV personality Saira Khan claimed she quit Loose Women after ITV bosses asked her to join OnlyFans.

The 52-year-old presenter was a regular panellist on the programme for five years before she departed in January 2021.

In October 2022, she alleged that she left ‘quietly’ after being approached by bosses to join the content subscription service OnlyFans, a request she described as ‘offensive’ and ‘disgusting’.

Sharing more details about ITV’s alleged approach on social media, she explained: ‘They asked me to go undercover and open an OnlyFans account for an investigative story – I had no idea what that even meant – it was asked by a junior producer who was sent running after me just as I was leaving to go home.’

Saira had been a panellist for five years (Picture: ITV)

Looking back at her time on the show, she also confessed the social media abuse made her time on Loose Women ‘toxic’.

Saira stressed that she does not want Loose Women to be cancelled, nor does she wish any harm to her former co-stars.

A spokesperson for Loose Women told Metro.co.uk that they ‘strongly refute’ Khan’s claims.

‘Duty of care is of paramount importance for all of our panellists,’ they continued. ‘Saira left the Loose Women panel almost two years ago and we wish her well.’