Crisis for Loose Women: Nadia Sawalha Faces Ban

Loose Women bosses are reportedly facing increased pressure to drop , after a string of industry figures called for her to be banned from the channel over accusations she posted antisemitic content on social media.

The actress and presenter came off the  panel last month after she defended her husband Mark Adderley's anti-Israel rants and shared a number of 'unhinged' videos on her Instagram account.

On Monday, Daily Mail revealed a number of leading Jewish figures presented executives with a 15-page letter, outlining their concerns over the prospect of Nadia being reinstated on the show.

Sources are now claiming that the saga has caused 'a poisonous and toxic' atmosphere backstage,' and at least one panellist has reportedly told pals she will threaten to boycott the show if Nadia returns.

An insider said: 'There is so much bad blood. Nadia has many defenders on the show but others have made it crystal clear they will flat-out refuse to work with her.

'They consider her a total loose cannon and don't want their own reputations, or the show's, dragged through the mud, particularly when things are at a low ebb following huge cuts to the show's budget.'

They went on to tell The Sun: 'Other stars have been hung out to dry or quietly iced out over relatively small misdemeanours, yet execs seem determined to defend Nadia.

'It's causing a lot of bitterness and some of those working on the show are fuming. It is one rule for Nadia and another for the rest.'

The row has sparked concerns that advertisers could withdraw their support for the show, despite ITV's attempts to brush over Nadia's absence from the panel.

A source said that bosses feel 'backed into a corner' around her future on the show, and are concerned any possible return could spell 'the end' for the show.

The Daily Mail has contacted representatives for ITV and Nadia Sawalha for comment.

Earlier this week it was revealed that bosses at the channel were presented with a letter from a number of leading Jewish figures.

Former ITV executive Claudia Rosencrantz, former Director of Television Danny Cohen and Fulwell Entertainment co-CEO Leo Pearlman were among the signatories. 

Nadia, they claimed, has not been raising 'criticism of Israeli government policy' or 'debate surrounding the conflict in Gaza', which would have been 'legitimate political expression.'

Their main concerns arose from her 'repeated promotion, legitimisation and endorsement of antisemitic conspiracy narrative' as well as the 'amplification of inflammatory disinformation and false claims relating to Israel and Jewish people.'

She has also been accused of being 'mocking, dismissive, or trivialising treatment of antisemitism allegations and concerns' as well as 'inflammatory conduct and gestures widely interpreted by viewers as threatening, hostile, or intimidating toward Jewish people.'

The letter, addressed to ITV executives Dame Carolyn McCall, Kevin Lygo and Andrew Cosslett, claimed that the actress has an 'obsessive online vilification of Jews' and asked whether they 'truly believe it is appropriate' for her to return to the show.

'Given the indisputable fact that Britain's Jews are now the target of more hate crimes per capita than any other minority group, we expect ITV will welcome the opportunity to assuage our concerns,' it said.

It said that, in line with its own regulatory framework, it should have already held the presenter 'to account.'

Other signatories included TV executive producer Nicholas Lazarus, former EMI Records MD Neil Ferris and top literary agent and producer Neil Blair.

Nadia and Mark, who was recently suspended from the Green Party after comparing Israel to Nazi Germany, often share online platforms.

They have recently appeared side-by-side in videos, some of which referred to 'Israeli false flag' operations being behind the assassination of Charlie Kirk and a missile attack on a British base in Cyprus.

Following Adderley's suspension from the party, Nadia publicly defended him as 'the most decent kind, super smart man with the hugest of hearts.' 

The lengthy letter highlighted a number of these videos as evidence that the pair have 'extremist sympathies.'

The group claimed that ITV's decision to reinstate her on the channel 'risked significant reputational damage to both ITV and its programming.'

Her appearance on the light-hearted daytime panel would be 'incompatible with the standards of judgement, responsibility, sensitivity, and public trust expected of a mainstream daytime television presenter associated with a major national broadcaster,' says the letter.

'Nadia Sawalha has been posting vile, unhinged rants online for some time now. It is time ITV took action against her,' Alex Hearn, from advocacy group Labour Against Antisemitism told the Mail last month.

An insider previously claimed the YouTube channel Nadia runs with her husband contained 'dangerous' posts. 

They said: 'People both on and off camera at ITV have complained to bosses about the nature of the YouTube channel, which has become increasingly conspiratorial and looks like anti-Semitism, disguised as anti-Israel rhetoric.

'A number of colleagues fear Nadia has brought this upon herself through her dangerous posting and there is growing concern for her mental health.'

Nadia was last on Loose Women at the end of April and usually .

Chosen as one of the original lineup when the show launched in 1999, she has been a regular fixture ever since. 

She blamed 'dark forces' when her husband was suspended by the Greens and prevented from standing as a candidate in Croydon over 'rants' including comparing Israel to Nazi Germany. 

ITV declined to comment on claims that Nadia has been dropped when they first emerged last month.

But the Daily Mail understood the broadcaster took a dim view of her controversial comments.

Another source described ITV and Ms Sawalha as both needing some 'space'.

She is not due on air for at least another week and both parties would likely meet to review any potential return, according to the insider.

'We love Nadia, she's a great Loose Woman,' the show source claimed. 'There has been a lot going on so Loose Women is having some space from her for some calm.'

Her husband Mr Adderley, 55, regularly uploads the critical content to his  channel, flanked by his wife.

Several of the couple's videos refer to 'Israeli false flag' operations being behind the assassination of US political figure  and a missile attack on a British base in Cyprus.

Shortly after Mr Adderley's suspension by the Greens, his wife posted a lengthy 21-minute social media rant in which she blamed 'dark forces behind everything that you see' and claimed her husband had been 'slandered' and unfairly punished.

She added: 'He is the most decent, kind, super smart man with the hugest of hearts.'

Despite her husband's suspension, she vowed to keep supporting the Greens.

The TV panellist, a former EastEnders star, insisted accusations had been taken out of context and said the couple had 'everything recorded' to prove it.

Nadia also claimed her husband's suspension followed an internal complaint and described the process as a 'carve up', arguing her husband's activism had been 'totally altruistic.'

She explained her husband is in the 'punishment phase' of 'bravely [speaking] up for the Palestinians in a way very few people' have 'the courage' to do.

His name still appeared on Thursday's ballot papers as a Green candidate for Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood in the Croydon elections despite his suspension. 

The Campaign Against Antisemitism previously called on ITV to investigate Ms Sawalha. 

A spokesman said: 'What sort of "dark forces" is Nadia Sawalha

'You expect spouses to be loyal, but appearing to double down on the sort of conspiratorial tropes that her husband has been promoting and that presumably prompted his suspension from the Green Party is not the way to go about it.

'Ms Sawalha has now drawn scrutiny to herself and Loose Women need to investigate whether she is just a little too loose-tongued to stay in post.'

Alex Hearn from advocacy group Labour Against Antisemitism, who described Ms Sawalha's posts as 'unhinged', welcomed the development.

He said: 'Nadia Sawalha has been posting vile, unhinged rants online for some time now. It is time ITV took action against her, before she does serious damage to the reputation of one of Britain's oldest broadcasters.' 

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