It's a sad day for Loose Women fans (us) as Denise Welch just announced she has quit the series after more than two decades.

Taking to Instagram on 13 August, Denise shared an update with her followers, revealing that she's chosen to depart the beloved show to focus on a "new chapter" of her life.

"I have the most wonderful, wonderful memories, and it's just that acting has always been my first love, and I think the thing I'm best at," Denise said of why she's leaving the chat show.

Denise went on to say she's "shared" her life with viewers, which includes "the good, the bad, and the ugly." She continued: "I'll miss everybody, but I will remain friends with the whole gang because, despite what you might read, we are a happy band of campers."

News of Denise's exit from Loose Women came as a shock to viewers, given her long tenure on the popular daytime show. She joined the panel as a guest in 2001 before being made a permanent panellist in 2005. Eight years later, in 2013, she left over a creative clash with producers, but returned in 2018 and has been a familiar fixture ever since.

Now that Denise is seemingly parting ways with the show for good, many fans are already wondering who might replace her. Here's what we know so far... and who we think could fill Denise's spot on Loose Women.

Who are the current Loose Women panellists?

Loose Women viewers will already be familiar with the show's set-up, which features a rotation of permanent panellists. Each episode, the legendary studio desk seat four regular panellists, but there's also space for guest stars and celebrities.

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Aside from Denise, who is leaving the show, here are all the regular panellists on Loose Women, per ITV:

  • Kaye Adams
  • Ruth Langsford
  • Coleen Nolan
  • Charlene White
  • Christine Lampard
  • Judi Love
  • Nadia Sawalha
  • Stacey Solomon
  • Linda Robson
  • Janet Street-Porter
  • Brenda Edwards
  • Jane Moore
  • Gloria Hunniford
  • Kelle Bryan
  • Frankie Bridge
  • Katie Piper
  • Sunetra Sarker
  • Sophie Morgan
  • Dame Kelly Holmes

Who will replace Denise Welch on Loose Women?

Much like when Claudia Winkleman and Tess Daly announced their departure from Strictly Come Dancing, fans of Loose Women are eager to know who will replace Denise Welch on the show. But, given how recent the news is, ITV has yet to announce who might take up her spot on the iconic series. That hasn't stopped fans – or us – from throwing their suggestions into the ring, though.

Here's everyone who could replace Denise when she leaves Loose Women for good:

Olivia Attwood

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Former Love Islander, host of The Price of Perfection and Getting Filthy Rich, and Cosmopolitan UK's most recent digital cover star, Olivia Attwood has been a recurring guest on Loose Women since 2023.

Since then, Olivia has often spoken out about how much she loves appearing on the show, and shut down rumours that there was a "rift" with her fellow Loose Women panellists. "There is no shade at Loose Women, not that I am involved in any way," she said on her So Wrong It's Right podcast last year.

With that in mind, we'd love to see Olivia join the show full-time and continue serving up her honest opinions on everything from romance to the career pressures facing young women.

GK Barry

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Podcaster, social media influencer, and I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! icon GK Barry is another guest star who has appeared on the Loose Women panel more than once. She first made an appearance on the show in 2024 and, at the time, was the youngest panellist in the show's 25-year run.

Speaking about her position on Loose Women, GK told the Daily Mirror earlier this year: "Things are great, it's been fine. I'm doing Loose Women a couple of times a month." Now, with a spot opening up on the regular cast, could GK's "couple of times a month" turn into something more? We certainly hope so!

Oti Mabuse

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Oti Mabuse – who you'll recognise from Strictly Come Dancing and I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! – has appeared on the Loose Women panel a few times since 2025. Before her 2022 departure as a professional dancer on Strictly, Oti was a fan favourite on the show, and she truly cemented her icon status during her 2024 I'm A Celeb stint.

Popularity aside, Oti has proven time and time again that she's a natural when it comes to live TV, and at 35 years old, she still has plenty of life experience to hold her own in comparison to the longer-running Loose Women panellists. Most importantly of all, Oti is absolutely brimming with personality, which is exactly what the show needs with the loss of Denise.

Daisy May Cooper

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This Country star Daisy May Cooper featured as a celebrity guest on Loose Women in 2024, and her funny, unfiltered personality would make her a great addition to the panel, especially given her life experience when it comes to relationships, motherhood, body image, and mental health.

That said, Daisy might be a hard one to pin down for Loose Women. She previously joked that appearing on Loose Women could be a career-ender for her. "I'd just get f*cking cancelled, I think," she told Closer when asked if she'd ever join the show permanently. "It'd be the quickest cancellation ever! I'd be on there for 20 seconds!"

So, who do you think will replace Denise?