Loose Women star Janet Street-Porter has opened up on ITV’s decision to cut the number of shows broadcast and reduce the pool of panellists as she said she “understands” the decision
Loose Women’s Janet Street-Porter has confessed that she can comprehend why ITV executives have decided to implement significant cuts to the popular daytime programme.
Earlier this year, the network announced it would be eliminating over 220 jobs and making reductions to shows including Loose Women and Lorraine. The alterations will result in Loose Women airing for 30 weeks instead of 52, and there are also rumours that the number of panellists will be decreased.
Janet, a member of the Loose Women panel since 2011, expressed her understanding of ITV’s decision, given her own experience as a TV executive.
Speaking to the Daily Mail, she said: “I’m sad the number of episodes will be cut back, but having been a TV executive I understand the need to make economies.”
The television personality, aged 78, also revealed that she isn’t concerned about her own future due as she has “the brain of a freelancer”. Her diverse career includes a stint on I’m A Celebrity, two appearances on Celebrity MasterChef, and participation in panel shows such as Question Time and Have I Got News for You, reports the Express.
She stated: “I don’t worry about what job I’m going to be doing this time next year, because I’ve got the brain of a freelancer.
“Most of my working life I’ve gone from one job to another. But I’ve lasted this long, nobody is going to shut me up now.”
In the past, Janet humorously suggested that she would “bully” ITV boss Kevin Lyog “into submission” to persuade him to reverse the Loose Women cuts.
Speaking on the Off Air with Jane and Fi podcast, the panellist highlighted the financial challenges ITV is facing, noting that its advertising revenue has been “diminishing hugely”.
Janet shared that she’d made her case for the show to Kevin Lygo, the managing director of ITV Studios, whom she knows “very well.”
She said: “So, I’ve expressed my feelings about it to him quite clearly, emphasising that Loose Women provides a valuable service.
“It talks about things women are interested in, in a pretty straightforward way. It gives people a bit of a laugh in the middle of the day, doesn’t take itself too seriously.”
When questioned if the show would “carry on”, she replied: “Yes, of course it’s carrying on! Of course it’s carrying on. It’s continuing for 30 weeks of next year and maybe more if I can persuade Kevin Lygo.”
She clarified that the bullying comment was “metaphorically speaking”.
Fellow Loose Women panellist Nadia Sawalha criticised the cuts, which she said came “out of the blue”.
She stated: “What’s been brutal, absolutely brutal, over the last week, honestly I feel tearful about it, is that hundreds of people… are going to be made redundant out of the blue, these are all the people behind the scenes that support us in every way.”
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