PANICKED ITV bosses are in crisis talks over the future of Loose Women as a toxic drama threatens to tear the show apart.
Pressure is mounting on the broadcaster to permanently drop long-time panellist over allegations of antisemitic remarks.
Pressure is mounting on ITV to permanently drop long-time panellist Nadia Sawalha, 61, over allegations of anti-Semitic remarks Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Nadia is at the centre of a storm after a 15-page dossier outlining the alleged jibes landed on executives’ desks, triggering a bitter civil war among the panel Credit: instagram/nadiasawalha
The 61-year-old actress and presenter, who last appeared on in April, is at the centre of the storm after a 15-page dossier outlining the alleged jibes landed on executives’ desks on Tuesday.
The Sun can reveal that television heavyweights, including former ITV controller Claudia Rosencrantz and business partner Leo Pearlman, also fired off a furious joint letter to ITV bosses demanding they immediately pull the plug on Nadia’s anticipated return.
Nadia has courted controversy over her political output on a channel she runs with her husband, but The Sun understands there were plans to bring her back this month.
The fallout has triggered a bitter civil war among the show’s panel, creating what insiders call a “poisonous and toxic” atmosphere backstage.
Yesterday , , and Sun columnist smiled for the cameras at The H Club Studio in London while recording the show.
But backstage there were furious whispers about the saga.
It is also understood from a source that at least one Loose Women panellist has told pals she has threatened an outright boycott if Nadia — sister of Absolutely Fabulous star Julia Sawalha — is allowed back.
A well-placed show insider said: “It was the only thing anyone was talking about yesterday.
“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.”
Executives recently oversaw a series of savage cost-cutting measures across daytime schedule, leading to widespread anxiety among freelancers and crew.
Yet sources say the channel’s executives are “protective” of Nadia, which has sparked furious accusations of double standards among the cast.
She has courted controversy over her political output on YouTube channel Coffee Moaning, which she runs with husband Mark AdderleyCredit: Refer to source
Christine Lampard, Coleen Nolan, Mariella Frostrup and Jane Moore today smiled for the cameras while recording the show Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
One insider said: “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.”
It comes at a precarious time for the show. Loose Women has already seen its broadcast schedule slashed to just 30 weeks a year amid shrinking budgets and falling ad revenues.
Now insiders fear the latest rift is in real danger of killing off the daytime staple for good.
The commercial department is said to be particularly concerned that advertisers could walk while the row is continuing.
relies heavily on lucrative sponsorships from family-friendly brands and supermarkets who do not want their products associated with toxic political rows and racism allegations.
For weeks, ITV has tried to sweep the Nadia problem under the rug.
Viewers noticed the original cast member, who has been with the show on and off since its launch in 1999, was quietly dropped from the panel in late April.
When rumours of her axe were reported, Nadia hit back.
She told her social media followers: “I have not been suspended from Loose Women, but thank you for your lovely messages.”
Despite her assurance, she has not appeared on the show since — and her planned return sparked the damning dossier sent to ITV bosses.
The unannounced hiatus followed a growing storm over Coffee Moaning, the YouTube channel she shares with her husband
The presenter last appeared on the daytime show in April Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
The Sun understands there were plans to bring her back this month Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
Mark, 55, was suspended as a candidate ahead of May’s local elections over alleged anti- semitic rants, including comparing to Nazi Germany and pushing bizarre conspiracy theories that “Israeli false flag” operations were behind the assassination of US political figure and a
Nadia, who has a Jordanian-born father and English mother, doubled down instead of distancing herself from the scandal.
Flanking her husband in videos, she unleashed a rambling 21-minute social media rant blaming “dark forces” for his suspension.
She insisted her husband had been “slandered”, calling the internal political probe a “carve up”, and claiming he was being punished for “bravely [speaking] up for ”.
The fallout has created what insiders describe as a ‘poisonous and toxic’ atmosphere backstage Credit: Shutterstock Editorial
The devastating dossier was sent to ITV Chief Executive Dame Carolyn McCall, above, Director of Television Kevin Lygo, and Chairman Andrew Cosslett Credit: Getty
Allegations in the dossier include Nadia mocking antisemitism allegations, an alleged throat-slitting gesture, and a post promoting a false claim that Israel had passed a law to “hang Muslims and Christians”.
It is understood ITV has received thousands of objections and has responded to individual complaints by reassuring viewers Nadia is an “independent commentator and freelance panellist on Loose Women”.
The channel added: “Any views shared by Nadia on her social platforms are her personal opinions and do not represent or reflect the views of ITV.”
But if show bosses thought the presenter’s absence was a fix, they were in for a rude awakening.
It is understood Nadia’s name was quietly listed on the Loose Women schedule for a return to the panel.
Word of the secret comeback plan spread, sparking the unprecedented intervention from some of the most powerful players in British TV who are determined to stop her return.
The devastating 15-page dossier, sent to ITV Chief Executive Dame Carolyn McCall, Director of Television Kevin Lygo, and Chairman Andrew Cosslett, notes Nadia has 645,000 Instagram followers and 157,000 YouTube subscribers.
The signatories accuse her of “peddling in antisemitic conspiracy theories, tropes and rhetoric”.
They demand to know why ITV’s Code of Ethics — which explicitly states contractors must not post anything on social media that could damage the channel’s reputation — has seemingly been ignored.
The signatories slammed ITV for quietly removing her in April only to try and sneak her in through the back door.
They noted the network still prominently cross-promotes her social media on their website.
“Free speech does not come at the expense of Jewish safety,” the letter states, referencing the unprecedented levels of hate crimes currently targeting Jews in the UK.
The heavyweights also challenged the network’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Policy, asking: “Can ITV testify that it has undertaken this zero-tolerance approach with respect to Ms Sawalha?”
Now the ball is firmly in ITV’s court, and the clock is ticking.
“Execs are in a total panic,” another insider told us. “Many suspect they thought they could weather the storm by keeping her off-screen for a few weeks and then quietly reintroducing.
“But this dossier has blown the lid completely off that plan.
“Having heavyweights like Claudia Rosencrantz, who literally used to run ITV programming, calling them out in writing is a total PR nightmare.
“They are backed into a corner and even Nadia’s pals in the Loose Women cast are concerned about the damage her return could do for the show. It could spell the end.”
Nadia and ITV were approached for comment.
Eze Chidiebere Paul
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