Sherrie Hewson has revealed she was once kicked under the table by her Loose Women co-star Coleen Nolan after making an ‘outrageous’ comment live on air.
The actress, 75, who appeared on the ITV show from 2003 to 2017, said that while nothing used to be off-limits during her early years on the panel, she recently discovered that speaking her mind can still land her in trouble with her former co-stars.
Speaking to The Sun in a new interview, she recalled: ‘I went on Loose Women a few months ago and I said something slightly outrageous – can’t remember what it was now – and Coleen kicked me under the table.’
‘I said, on air: “Don’t kick me”, and she replied: “But I like to kick you!” That’s the kind of banter we need. The kind of atmosphere where it’s OK to have a bit of a go at each other – and no hard feelings.’
She also reflected on her early days on Loose Women, saying she couldn’t remember anyone being ‘offended’ by what anyone said or did back then.
She admitted: ‘Yes, we had rows. I had awful ding-dongs with Janet Street Porter – I’d tell her to shut up because I thought she was talking rubbish.’
Sherrie Hewson has revealed she was once kicked under the table by her Loose Women co-star Coleen Nolan after making an ‘outrageous’ comment live on air (Sherrie pictured on the show 2024)
The actress, 75, who appeared on the ITV show from 2003 to 2017, said that while nothing used to be off-limits during her early years on the panel, she recently discovered that speaking her mind can still land her in trouble with her former co-stars (Coleen Nolan pictured on the show last month)
But she added that the pair would always end up laughing about it afterwards, insisting they both found it ‘very funny’.
She noted that her co-star was ‘talking rubbish’ – before admitting, ‘maybe I was too.’
She went on to say that people should be able to agree to disagree, as everyone has different opinions and should feel free to express them.
It comes after Sherrie hit out at ITV bosses for axing weeks of the popular daytime show, branding the decision ‘cruel.’
From January, the programme will only air for 30 weeks of the year instead of running all year round, as part of sweeping budget cuts.
Sherrie, who now stars in Hollyoaks, warned that the move would leave many older and vulnerable viewers without the ‘lifeline’ the lunchtime panel show provides.
The actress, who volunteers in care homes, says she has seen firsthand how much the show means to patients with dementia.
Watching Loose Women, she explained, can feel like being part of a conversation and, for some, even provide a reason to live.
Speaking to The Sun, she recalled: ‘I went on Loose Women a few months ago and I said something slightly outrageous – can’t remember what it was now – and Coleen kicked me under the table’ (L-R Christine Lampard, Coleen, Sherrie, Andrea McLean, Janet Street-Porter, and Brenda Edwards)
She continued: ‘I said, on air: “Don’t kick me”, and she replied: “But I like to kick you!” That’s the kind of banter we need’
She told The Sun on Sunday: ‘Women of all ages, those up to 95 down to younger women at home with young children, it’s like therapy to them.
‘It feels cruel and sad that they’ve decided to cut the episodes on Loose Women, which is a show that can bring anger and emotions.’
Sherrie also criticised ITV for slashing shows aimed at older audiences, pointing out that viewers over 55 watch more TV than any other age group, but are the ones most ignored by broadcasters.
She said: ‘We all need that where we can all shout at the TV. Some people are lonely, and it is a lifeline for them, the only discussion they may actually be part of during the day.’
Despite leaving the show in 2016 after four years, Sherrie insisted she still feels passionately about its importance.
She added that it is shows like Loose Women which help the older generation feel like they are interacting.
The Daily Mail has contacted ITV for comment.
It was announced earlier in the year that the show would no longer be running for 52 weeks of the year and instead be on screen for just 30 in a bid to cut costs.
It comes after Sherrie hit out at ITV bosses for axing weeks of the popular daytime show, branding the decision ‘cruel’ (pictured 2019)
From January, the programme will only air for 30 weeks of the year instead of running all year round, as part of sweeping budget cuts (pictured Christine, Coleen, Sherrie, Andrea, Janet, and Brenda in 2024)
Changing viewing habits, including an increased reliance on streaming services, have forced ITV to make some difficult decisions in a bid to remain profitable and keep some of the UK’s most beloved shows on air.
Other shows that have been affected by cuts at the broadcaster include Good Morning Britain and Lorraine.
Good Morning Britain will now run for an extra half an hour to reduce Lorraine’s slot from one hour to 30 minutes.
Like Loose Women, Lorraine will now air for just 30 weeks a year, and when it is not on, it will be replaced by an even longer edition of Good Morning Britain, which will run from 6am to 10am.
Kevin Lygo, Managing Director of ITV’s Media and Entertainment Division, stressed that ‘daytime is a really important part of what we do.’
The Managing Director continued: ‘These scheduling and production changes will enable us to continue to deliver a schedule providing viewers with the news, debate and discussion they love from the presenters they know and trust, as well as generating savings which will allow us to reinvest across the programme budget in other genres.
‘These changes also allow us to consolidate our news operations and expand our national, international and regional news output and to build upon our proud history of trusted journalism at a time when our viewers need accurate, unbiased news coverage more than ever.’
The news comes after the Loose Women panellists are said to be facing a tight squeeze in a new ‘broom cupboard’ studio following recent cuts.
Other shows that have been affected by cuts at the broadcaster include Good Morning Britain and Lorraine
According to insiders, once ITV’s budget cuts come into effect in January, Loose Women will no longer have A-list guests in the studio, and the broadcast has planned to only consist of the panel debating newsworthy topics from the week.
There is also thought to be a move to London’s Celebro from White City.
An ITV source told Daily Mail: ‘We have always said that when the changes to our daytime schedule take place in 2026 that Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women will broadcast from a new central London location.
‘The new studio is not yet confirmed, and when it is, we will obviously communicate that news to our staff first’
Show bosses are also said to be keen on nurturing new host Olivia Attwood, who has 250 million viewers across her streams.
But the rotational panel is also expected to remain, with ITV claiming it has no desire to freshen it with new faces.
