Linda Robson's Loose Women fears amid brutal cuts at ITV - 'I'm praying'
Linda Robson says she's 'worried' about the future of Loose Women as ITV look to make huge savings across its daytime shows. In May it was revealed the much-loved panel show would be axed for half the year as bosses eyed up massive cuts in a bid to save millions.
Birds Of A Feather star Linda, who's appeared on the show for 20 years, says the threat to its future has left her 'praying' it doesn't get cancelled. 'We are all rallying together,' she said. It's been reported that when budget cuts come into effect in January it'll mean the show will no longer have A-list guests in the studio and their live audience will be a thing of the past.
There are growing fears the ITV staple could even be cancelled within a year. 'It will be very sad if we can't have guests,' sighed Linda, 67.
ITV is slashing the budgets of its biggest daytime shows including Good Morning Britain, Lorraine, Loose Women and This Morning, including halving the number of jobs and significantly reducing the time some of them are on air. The cuts at ITV Studios, which makes all four shows, mean more than 220 of 440 staff involved will lose their jobs.
'It's a shame people are losing their jobs,' Linda went on. '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.'
The show features a rotating panel of presenters who debate hot topics, big issues and the news of the day. It's welcomed huge names on as guests like supermodel Naomi Campbell and singer Janet Jackson.
Running since 1999, it is filmed in front of a live studio audience - although recent reports suggest that this has now been cut and will be implemented next year. ITV haven't confirmed the move.
Fellow Loose Women presenter Nadia Sawalha previously told how everyone was now fearing for their jobs. 'What people don't realise at Loose Women is that we're self-employed,' she explained.
'I am 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.'
Looking back at her time on the long-running show - famous for debating debate hot topics, big issues and the news of the day - Linda explained why she's been perfect for the panel.
'I've got a loose mouth,' she laughed on the red carpet of the National Reality TV Awards in London. '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.'
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