Loose Women Future in Doubt as Linda Robson Admits She’s Praying the Show Survives ITV Cuts

Linda Robson has confessed she’s genuinely “worried” about what’s coming for Loose Women as ITV prepares to make some serious cutbacks across its daytime TV line-up. The Birds of a Feather star, who’s been a familiar face on the panel for two decades, admitted the uncertainty has her “praying” that the show doesn’t get cancelled altogether.

ITV is reportedly planning to take Loose Women off air for half the year starting January, with significant changes already looming. A big one? No more A-list guests in the studio and the end of their much-loved live audience. That alone has caused real concern among both viewers and the presenters themselves, especially with fears growing that the whole programme could be shelved within a year.

“We are all rallying together,” Linda said, clearly emotional about the possibility of losing something that’s been a staple in her life for so long. “It will be very sad if we can’t have guests,” she added, already mourning what’s likely to be lost if these cuts go ahead as planned, reported the Daily Mail.

The wider picture at ITV is just as bleak. Across shows like Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, This Morning, and Loose Women, major budget cuts are being rolled out. With over 220 of the 440 staff at ITV Studios set to lose their jobs, this isn’t just about airtime being reduced. It’s about livelihoods, long-standing teams being torn apart, and a massive shift in the daytime TV landscape.

“It’s a shame people are losing their jobs,” Linda said, her voice full of emotion. “We’re all like a family. We’ve been together through births, marriages, deaths. It’s been very hard. Everyone’s worried about the show. We’re just trying to stay positive and hope for the best. But hopefully it’s not going be as bad as it already is.”

Since it launched in 1999, Loose Women has built a strong following, not just for its honest and often emotional debates on everything from daily news to personal stories, but for its chemistry and connection with viewers. Over the years, the show has seen some massive names take the guest seat, including Naomi Campbell and Janet Jackson. The loss of live audiences and guest appearances will undeniably change the show’s feel, and ITV hasn’t officially confirmed when or if that will happen—but the writing seems to be on the wall.

Nadia Sawalha, another longtime panellist, has also opened up recently about the tension behind the scenes. She pointed out that most people assume the Loose Women team are employed staff when in fact they’re all self-employed. “Every contract is a new contract. I could be let go tomorrow. I could be let go in five years. You don’t know because we’re not employees,” she said, reported the Mirror.

Linda, reflecting on her time with the show, gave a typically candid take on why she’s lasted so long. “I’ve got a loose mouth,” she joked at the National Reality TV Awards. “I’m always getting told not to swear in my ear. They try and stop me from doing it. I’m under Baggy Mouth in the group chat.”

Whether her “baggy mouth” can keep her on the panel in the face of all these cuts is anyone’s guess, but one thing’s clear—Loose Women fans won’t be taking these changes lightly.