Former Loose Women panellist Sherrie Hewson has voiced her discontent with the show's recent transformation, describing it as overly cautious and lacking the vibrant energy that once defined it. The 75-year-old actress, best known for her role in Benidorm, was a regular on the ITV daytime programme from 2003 until 2016. She has now labelled the revamped format as 'woke' and 'subdued'.
Major overhaul for Loose Women
At the start of 2026, Loose Women underwent significant changes, adopting a 30-week seasonal schedule and eliminating its live studio audience. These alterations have drawn criticism from both former panellists and viewers alike. Reflecting on her tenure, Hewson remarked that the show has lost its outspoken character, which originally attracted a loyal following.
Memories of unfiltered discussions
Speaking to Zingo Bingo, Hewson recalled the early days of the programme: 'When we started Loose Women, we were very free because we didn't think anybody was watching. It wasn't 'woke' times, so we could say anything.' She highlighted the candid exchanges with fellow panellists like Carol McGiffin and Janet Street-Porter, noting that their arguments were genuine and unfiltered. 'Janet and I always had a right barney and had proper rows. I always used to tell her to shut up and she used to have a go at me, but you couldn't do that now,' she added.
Loss of celebrity guests
Hewson also lamented the absence of celebrity guests on the show, which once featured stars such as the cast of Friends, Bette Midler, and Robbie Williams. 'That's sad because that's all gone now, because they don't have guests now and they don't have a studio audience because they've moved studios,' she said. She described the current format as 'very formulaic' and 'subdued', a stark contrast to the lively debates of the past.
Viewer reactions
After a brief hiatus, Loose Women returned on Monday, 27 April, but the changes did not go unnoticed by viewers. One fan commented: 'I miss the audience. This gives a clinical feel.' Another added: 'The loose women are back after many weeks and it has become very clear that they shouldn't have bothered.' Hewson concluded: 'Everything changes. With 'woke' now, it's very hard for them to be that free like we were. There's people in there like lawyers saying, you can't say that and can't do that.'
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV1.
