Loose Women star Charlene White has revealed the heartbreaking loss of her father, who died by suicide in October 2025 after struggling with his mental health. The 45-year-old presenter described her father as an “amazing dad” who had been “living with a dark cloud” over his head that he “couldn’t lift”.
Speaking about the challenges of returning to work after her bereavement, White admitted she underestimated the difficulty of appearing on television while grieving. “What I underestimated is how difficult it is to go on air when you’re holding it together in front of hundreds of thousands of people,” she said. She praised ITV for their support, saying they gave her time off when needed and supported her when she said a particular week wasn’t good.
White, who became the first Black woman to present ITV News At Ten in 2014, emphasised the importance of prioritising mental health. “We are strong when we need to be, but we also have to recognise when we’re not,” she explained. “There have been times when I’ve had to step back because I couldn’t be strong that week. That’s important – knowing the difference between being strong and faking it.”
The mother of two, who shares children Alfie, eight, and Florence, six, with partner Andy Woodfield, also spoke about the support from her Loose Women colleagues. She described the panel as a “family” with a WhatsApp group where they celebrate wins and support each other through losses. “The OGs have opened their hearts to the newbies, and that shows the strength of the show,” she said.
White also reflected on her decision to appear on I’m A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! after initially refusing six times. She said the Covid pandemic changed her perspective: “After everything we went through, I thought, if I can get through that with two young children, I can survive the jungle.”
