Ore Oduba calls for all-Black panels to become daily fixture on TV after Loose Men honoured with major prize

Ore Oduba has said he would love to see all-Black panels become more normalised after his episode of Loose Men picked up a Royal Television Society Award.

Last year, the Strictly Come Dancing star appeared on the special, which aired during Black History Month, alongside Good Morning Britain’s Andi Peters, Diversity’s Jordan Banjo and The Chase’s Shaun Wallace.

During the episode, the panellists talked openly about topics including the last time they cried, as well as body dysmorphia.

This week, the show was singled out at the RTAs, being named as the best daytime programme.

The judges who made the decision said the show ‘felt brave, groundbreaking and truly refreshing in so many different ways’.

Now Ore, 37, has said having four Black men on that panel was unique, but that he’d love to see it happen more often.

Ore Oduba, Andi Peters and Shaun Wallace visited Loose Women after their award win (Picture: S Meddle/ITV/Shutterstock)

‘At no point was it discussed last night that there were four Black men talking about things important to them, but at the same time the significance of that wasn’t lost,’ he said when appearing on Loose Women on Wednesday.

‘It was so wonderful we could be up there and for me growing up, that just did not happen, and it wasn’t something we would see every day.

‘I don’t know about you but I would love to see that every day and more and more and normalising it.’

He added: ‘When I first came onto Loose Men it was the day after my first panic attack, and I went on record saying that, and if it wasn’t for the show I just wouldn’t have spoken about it or felt comfortable.

‘Interestingly nationally telly is the place to feel comfortable.’

Once the show had gone to air, Ore said that they discovered how positive the response had been, and it ‘felt to special’ to have taken part.

‘This show has completely changed my life. It’s so simple, if it hadn’t been for this, I’d be struggling,’ he said.

Also appearing on Loose Women were Andi and Shaun, with the latter reflecting on how it had ‘felt so natural for us to all go to the same room and open up’.

‘It’s really good that we can sit down and strip down that macho stereotype and open up on our feelings… It was really, really good that we could talk about important issues like men’s health, mental health,’ he said.

Ore has said he would love to see similar panels become normalised (Picture: Jeff Spicer/Getty Images)

Andi added: ‘It was a huge departure for us and talking about issues that affect men today, Black or white, but it was the great ability to do it on TV for men and to feel comfortable doing it.’

Speaking about the episode, Loose Women panellist Kelle Bryan labelled it an ‘important moment’.

‘I love that my son could look at the TV and see these four Black men doing what they should be doing – talking about stories that are relevant to everybody.’

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During last year’s special, Shaun discussed being in touch with his emotions, while Jordan spoke about the impacts of being body shamed.

Viewers were full of praise for the episode, with many calling for Loose Men to have their own weekly programme.

Loose Women airs weekdays from 12.30pm on ITV1.

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‘I would love to see that every day.’