Loose Women backstage chaos as fuming stars ‘doing show through gritted teeth’ as they face 60% pay cut
LOOSE Women is in chaos backstage with some of the stars doing the show “through gritted teeth” as they face a 60 per cent pay cut.
A huge ITV shake-up was announced this week, with Loose Women set to air for only 30 weeks of the year from January.
As a result The Sun can reveal some of the Loose Women have been left seething due to being paid per episode.
An insider told us: “It’s very tense backstage as the cast are all fuming. It’s like they’re putting on a brave face and doing the show through gritted teeth.
“Some people’s pay could be cut by 60% as some get paid by the episode and they’ll be slashed next year.
“For some it’s their main source of income and it’s worrying to everyone.”
The Sun also told this week how the scheduling cut also means the full 26-strong pool of presenters and panellists will no longer be required.
Up to a third of the cast, which includes Denise Welch, Christine Lampard, Coleen Nolan and Charlene White, could be left without a seat at the table in the shake-up.
Lorraine Kelly’s eponymous show — on straight after Good Morning Britain — has been cut to just 30 minutes a day and will also only air for 30 weeks of the year.
GMB, with hosts including Susanna Reid, Ed Balls and Kate Garraway, will take half an hour from Lorraine — running from 6am to 9.30am.
More than 220 jobs will be lost as part of the shake-up — almost half of the 450 employed on the four flagship shows GMB, Lorraine, This Morning and Loose Women.
The reshuffle comes amid a desperate cost-cutting drive at the broadcaster, and follows changes already made to its soaps.
But bosses insist the cuts will bolster other areas of the channel including new drama and sport.
One ITV worker told The Sun: “Everyone is completely gutted and in shock.
“We can’t believe they would dismantle these brilliant shows.
“It’s the death of daytime TV.”
ITV's daytime TV schedule changes in full
Good Morning Britain will be extended by 30 minutes to run from 6am to 9.30am daily.
Lorraine will run from 9.30am-10am, on a seasonal basis for 30 weeks of the year.
During the weeks Lorraine is not on air, Good Morning Britain will run from 6am to 10am.
This Morning will remain in its 10am-12.30pm slot on weekdays throughout the year.
Loose Women will be in the 12.30-1.30pm slot, again on a seasonal basis for 30 weeks of the year.
The changes will take effect from January 2026.