Loose Women, the popular daytime ITV chat show, has bid farewell to another prominent name as Penny Lancaster becomes the latest personality to step away from the panel. The departure comes amid swirling reports of backstage “toxicity” and a series of significant exits from the show’s lineup.
Penny Lancaster, the former model and wife of iconic rocker Rod Stewart, has officially left Loose Women, with her name no longer featured on the show’s cast list. The decision follows the footsteps of long-standing panelists Carol McGiffin and Saira Khan, who have also bid adieu to the “cut-throat” environment of the daytime favorite.
Lancaster, a mother of two and a fixture on the show since her debut in 2014, contributed her insights to discussions until September of the previous year, having graced the panel 47 times. An inside source disclosed, “Penny enjoyed doing the show but it requires a lengthy commitment from regular panel members and this is something Penny cannot do. She’s touring with Rod and also has family commitments both in the UK and abroad. She could still make a guest appearance.”
An ITV representative shared, “Loose Women features a rotating panel and we also often invite guest panellists to appear on the show and for specials too. Penny is a much-loved part of the award-winning Loose Women family and it is always a pleasure to have her on the panel, to discuss and reflect on topics close to both her heart and those of the viewers.”
The decision to part ways with Loose Women comes amidst discussions about the show’s atmosphere behind the scenes. Agent Melanie Blake, who represented 15 women from the program, recently voiced her perspective, contrasting Loose Women with the more positive work environment of This Morning. She highlighted the challenges that arise when ambitious women contend for a limited number of panel seats, acknowledging the inevitable tensions that can emerge.
Carol McGiffin, an institution on the show for 18 years, departed in March, citing an “unjust and unworkable” contract as her reason for leaving. Additionally, she expressed dissatisfaction with the show’s shift towards being “very, very woke,” noting that she no longer felt like she fit in.
Saira Khan, another former panelist who left in late 2021, claimed that show executives suggested she open an OnlyFans account for content creation, an allegation ITV denies. As a married Muslim mother of children, Khan detailed feeling humiliated and disappointed by the proposal.
Amidst these changes, Loose Women continues to navigate the dynamics of a daytime talk show, balancing a rotating panel with the desire to foster meaningful discussions on topics that resonate with both the panelists and the viewers.