🔥 “I’ve still got bills to pay” — Coleen Nolan finally breaks her silence as ITV budget cuts hit Loose Women, sparking fears over jobs and finances

Coleen Nolan has spoken candidly about her financial anxieties amid what she has described as “sad” and brutal budget cuts affecting Loose Women.

The long-serving ITV panellist, 60, has addressed the behind-the-scenes impact of sweeping cost-saving measures that have reshaped the daytime programme — changes that have left both on-screen talent and production staff facing uncertainty.

Last June, the Daily Mail exclusively revealed that the ITV show would axe its live studio audience and alter its scheduling in a desperate attempt to curb spending as budget pressures intensified across the channel.

Speaking openly on the Not My Bagg podcast, Coleen explained:

“We’ll only be on during term time now. So all the holidays will be off. On one hand, you go, ‘quite nice time off’. But then on the other hand, you go, ‘I’ve still got bills to pay.’”

She admitted the changes would significantly alter the atmosphere of the show, adding:

Lulutox

These 2 Vegetables Will Kill Your Belly And Arm Fat Overnight!

Learn more

“It’s just a different vibe. I think it will be okay, but I’m really going to miss a lot of different people behind the scenes.”

Coleen went on to explain that while the programme will remain live, it will feel markedly different without an audience.

“It will still be live but there will be no audience, and I don’t think they’re having guests. I just feel like it will be like a podcast — but on live television.”

Despite her concerns, the presenter acknowledged the show’s survival was still a relief.

“It could have been worse. They could have said, ‘By the way, we’re not recommissioning it. See you later.’ It’s still here. It’s still going.”

Coleen also admitted she would deeply miss the energy provided by a live audience.

“I love having the audience there. You get all the feedback and the adrenaline from the audience. So that’s going to be really weird for us.”

While emotional about the consequences, Coleen said she understood the commercial realities behind the cuts.

“They’ve all got to find new jobs, so there’s a sadness. I understand it’s a business, and sometimes in business, hard decisions have to be made. Nowadays, it’s all about budgets.”

Reflecting on how television has changed, she added:

“TV is so different now. If you think of how many channels there are, the competition… I can’t even count them. It’s a completely different era to what it was 25 years ago.”

Coleen nostalgically recalled her early career, saying:

“When I was a kid, there were three channels. That’s how old I am! When I did the Cliff Richard series when I was nine, it went out on a Saturday night and 23 million people watched it every week.”

The shake-up comes as part of a wider ITV daytime overhaul. Lorraine will move to a 30-week schedule, with episodes cut to just 30 minutes from 9.30am to 10am. This Morning will continue airing for two-and-a-half hours from 10am until 12.30pm, while Good Morning Britain will be extended by 30 minutes.

Loose Women will remain in its usual 12.30pm to 1.30pm slot, but episode numbers will be reduced to a 30-week, seasonal-style schedule.

The changes officially took effect on Monday, with the programme relocating to The H Club Studio in Covent Garden, London, after years of filming at Television Centre in White City.

Despite the upheaval, Coleen’s message was clear: while the show survives, the emotional and financial cost of the cuts is being felt — quietly, deeply, and far from the cameras.

Source: Daily Mail — https://www.dailymail.co.uk/