Charlene White addressed Carol McGiffin’s show departure (Picture: ITV)
Loose Women presenter Charlene White revealed she understood why Carol McGiffin left the ITV daytime show.
The host has been a long-running favourite on the Loose Women panel since 2000 but was reportedly ‘forced’ to quit the show after sharing Covid conspiracy theories.
In her weekly column for Best magazine, Carol wrote: ‘The problem was, ITV were insisting, for the first time since I went back in 2018, that if I wanted to carry on doing the show, I would have to sign a contract that was totally unjust and unworkable for me, so I had to say ‘no thanks.’”
She added that she’s been ‘quite upset about it’, and said it was a decision she was ‘forced to make’.
Charlene – who regularly features on the hit programme – explained that she understood Carol’s reason behind leaving.
‘It’s a huge shame, the show will really miss her and as a group we’ll really miss her, she’s our colleague and we’ve worked with her for a really long time,’ she told The Sun.
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‘The show will really miss her’ said Charlene (Picture: Getty)
Last week, Carol addressed her absence on the show on GB News.
‘Well put it this way, reading all the comments from the article at the weekend there are a lot of people who think the programme has gone very, very woke.’
She joked that even she doesn’t watch anymore and added: ‘You just don’t have to keep forcing this stuff down peoples’ throats. It’s not just ITV, the BBC is probably worse actually.’
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When asked about Carol’s ‘woke’ claim, ITV News presenter Charlene stressed that while everyone on the panel has ‘different’ opinions they still remain the good friend.
Following Carol’s exit, an ITV spokesperson said: ‘Any theories around Covid discussed by Carol on a platform outside of ITV would be her personal opinions, have not been broadcast as part of Loose Women and do not represent the views of ITV. Here at ITV we encourage free speech, but equally are fully committed to responsible broadcasting and adhering to the Ofcom code.
‘ITV will not comment on speculation around individual contracts. We understand that Carol has decided to leave Loose Women and we wish her well in any future projects.’
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV.
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‘We’ve worked with her for a really long time.’