’Loose Women’ will make TV history on Wednesday (16 November) when guest panellist India Willoughby becomes the first ever transgender woman to present an all-female talk show.
The news journalist is joining the panel of the ITV daytime programme to mark Transgender Awareness Week, and will join regular hosts Ruth Langsford, Martine McCutcheon and Janet Street Porter.
It comes a month after she appeared as a guest on show to talk about her gender reassignment struggle.
Speaking ahead of her stint on the panel, India said in a statement: “I’m still still pinching myself to make sure it’s not a dream. I’ve always loved the show so I just can’t believe I’m going to be a part of it.
“Hopefully my history will bring something new to the mix. All the ‘Loose Women’ have overcome some sort of adversity, they all carry battle scars and that’s what makes them interesting people. Mine just happened to my body throughout the journey to become my true self. I feel like the luckiest girl in the world right now and I can’t wait to get live and loose.”
The show’s editor, Sally Shelford, added: “What makes a great ‘Loose Women’ panellist is the journey they’ve taken to become the woman they are today and India is no different. She is an inspiring role model for modern Britain and we can’t wait for her to join the other women for what is set to be a landmark show.”
India worked as a regional TV news journalist while living as a man, before beginning her journey to becoming a woman in 2010. She underwent gender reassignment surgery last October.
She also told The Mirror of how she’d turned down several other TV offers, revealing: “I didn’t want to be considered a novelty. I want to be working on merit and that’s why it was so perfect for me, because I’m just a girl next door.
‘Loose Women’ airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV.
Useful websites and helplines:
- London Lesbian & Gayswitchboard (LLGS) is a free confidential support & information helpline for LGBT communitiesthroughout the UK | 0300 330 0630
- Manchester Lesbian and GaySwitchboard is a free support, information and referral service for the Manchester andNorth-West area | 0161 235 8000
- Stonewall for more information on other LGBT services and helplines | 08000502020
