Former ‘Loose Women’ panellist Carol McGiffin has hit out at the show, after not being invited back to celebrate their 18th birthday.
The ITV daytime show is airing a special week of episodes to mark the milestone, with a host of ‘Loose’ legends returning on Friday (8 September).
But despite still holding the record for the most ‘Loose Women’ appearances, sitting on the panel for 1,174 shows prior to quitting in 2013, Carol has been left out of the celebrations.
Open Image Modal
Carol McGiffin has not been invited back for Loose Women's 18th birthday
Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock
After fans on Twitter questioned whether she would be returning, the presenter claimed she was being “airbrushed” out of the show’s history in a series of tweets.
“I only did 13 years and over 1,000 shows, why would I even be asked???!!!” she tweeted in response to one Twitter user.
When other pointed out she didn’t feature in much of the archive footage that has been shown this week, Carol said: “You’re not the only one who noticed....it’s not like they didn’t have a lot of material to choose from! #1,174shows.”
She added to another fan: “I don’t mind being more or less airbrushed from LW history,” alongside a host of laughing emojis.
Asked if she had upset the bosses, Carol made a quip about the former line-up being more of a hit with viewers than the current panel.
“Dunno. Maybe it’s because We (the old gang) left and the show stopped winning awards? Who knows? X,” she wrote.
After noticing she featured in a picture posted on the ‘Loose Women’ Twitter account, she sarcastically tweeted: “Phew! So I was there....it wasn’t a dream?”
She added: “Yeah, don’t miss the show because sooooo many of those ‘incredible’ women won’t be on it!”
Carol also told one fan she actually found her missing invitation bemusing, writing: “It’s fine, I’m not arsed, in fact I find it quite funny.”
A number of Twitter users also blasted bosses’ decision not to invite Carol to return:
HuffPost UK has contacted a ‘Loose Women’ spokesperson for comment and is awaiting a response.
Carol previously admitted she would be keen to return to ‘Loose Women’ on a permanent basis, but only if “certain panellists” were let go first.
Although she remained tight-lipped about exactly who she was referring to, Carol has been vocal about her dislike for certain newbies in the past.
“That’s why the show is so different, because they’re going for people with a lot of fans.”
Open Image Modal
Carol with some of her fellow 'Loose Women'
Ken McKay/REX/Shutterstock
Carol also hit out at the show’s revamp in 2014, which was called for after a slump in ratings following her departure.
She told Woman magazine: “It’s nothing like the show I worked on for 13 years. They should call it ‘Cosy Chats Around a Lilliputian Table With The Audience On Your Lap’.
“Good luck to them. They’ll need it, as the ratings are shit.”
Long before she was answering to Lord Sugar, The Apprentice star Karren was letting loose on the ITV daytime show.
She was one of the original line-up of ladies, appearing on the first episode in 1999.
And while her stint was short-lived, ending just a year later, Karren returned to the panel for an anniversary special in 2017, along with the rest of the women who appeared on that very first show. (credit:REX)
Kerry Katona(02 of12)
Open Image Modal
Back when she was Kerry McFadden (those were the days, eh?), the Atomic Kitten singer appeared as a panelist between 2003 and 2004.
She was only 23 when she joined the show, making her the youngest Loose Woman regular ever, and her sometimes naive outlook on life meant she often clashed with Sherrie Hewson, providing many hilarious moments. (credit:REX)
Nina Wadia(03 of12)
Open Image Modal
She's best known for playing the opinionated Zainab Masood in EastEnders, but Nina offered up plenty of opinions of her own when she appeared as a series regular between 2005 and 2006. (credit:REX)
Gillian Taylforth(04 of12)
Open Image Modal
Another EastEnder who graced the Loose Women panel was Gillian Taylforth – better known as Walford's Kathy Beale.
The actress enjoyed two stints as a Loose lady, first in 2006 and again in 2008. (credit:REX)
Cilla Black(05 of12)
Open Image Modal
While the late Cilla will be remembered for her huge TV hits Blind Date and Surprise Surprise, her last regular TV gig was actually as a Loose Woman.
She appeared first as a guest anchor in 2009 and was invited back as a regular panelist between 2010 and 2011, returning for a final appearance in 2014. (credit:REX)
Sarah Millican(06 of12)
Open Image Modal
In our humble opinion, Sarah's tenure as a Loose Woman was simply not long enough.
The comic only appeared as a panelist for less than a year in 2011, before leaving to concentrate on her stand-up career. (credit:REX)
Beverley Callard(07 of12)
Open Image Modal
During one of her many breaks from Coronation Street, Beverley (aka Liz McDonald) took up a seat behind the famous desk in 2010. (credit:REX)
Kym Marsh(08 of12)
Open Image Modal
While Kym has recently enjoyed a few turns as a guest panellist, many have forgotten her original stint as a regular on the show in 2005, back when she sported an interesting (if that's the right word?) set of hair extensions. (credit:REX)
Claire Sweeney(09 of12)
Open Image Modal
The former Brookside actress enjoyed over two years on the panel back in 2003, and later returned for six episodes in 2010, and a further two in 2012. (credit:REX)
Sheree Murphy(10 of12)
Open Image Modal
Sheree was a welcome addition to the panel in 2006, after she finished playing Emmerdale's much-loved Tricia Dingle. While she left in 2007, she later returned as a guest panellist for an episode in 2015. (credit:REX)
Claire Richards(11 of12)
Open Image Modal
After the departure of many of Loose Women's biggest names in 2013 and 2014, Steps singer Claire made a string of guest appearances. She impressed bosses so much, she was soon promoted to a regular.
However, a massive revamp of the show in the September of 2014 saw her leave the show with no explanation. (credit:REX)
Jenny Powell(12 of12)
Open Image Modal
The Wheel Of Fortune assistant was finally given a break from turning around letters on a board in 2004, when she joined the Loose Women panel for a year. (credit:ITV)