The former ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ winner - who was one of the longest-serving panellists, occupying a spot from 2005 to 2013 - has told of how becoming teetotal left her feeling differently about what she was prepared to offer viewers.
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Denise Welch left 'Loose Women' in 2013
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Reflecting on her stint on the ITV daytime show during an interview with HuffPost UK, Denise said: “’Loose Women’ was very good to me for many years and I love the fact the public got to know me as Denise and I was bring a lot of awareness to things I was passionate about, but I was ready to stop talking about myself.
“I gave up alcohol and everything changed for me and I just didn’t want to share in that way.”
She continued: “I’m still friends with all the girls that I used to be there with, but I’d done it for so long that people had forgotten I was an actress. I needed to concentrate on going back to that because it is my first love and that’s what I do best.
“I love presenting, and if the right project comes along, I’ll jump as it, but as long as it’s me presenting something about something else, not me talking about myself.”
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Densie was a panellist for over eight years
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Of her dream presenting gig, Denise admitted she would like to make a mental health documentary, having just made her own short film about living with depression.
“I’d love to do a three-part documentary about mental illness over the ages, because - and this sound ridiculous - but I’m very lucky to suffer from mental illness in this century rather than last,” she explained. “A lot of people still think of electric shock therapy.”
Denise also downplayed talk she could reunite with former partner in crime Carol McGiffin on a new show.
“We did talk about it, but now that I’m sober, I don’t know if I could cope with her!” she joked.
“Carol is one of my best mates and I absolutely adore her.”
She added: “We all talk on a group text every day. I spoke to Vorders [Carol Vorderman] and Jane McDonald the other day and we’re all still in touch.”
12 Stars You'd Forgotten Were 'Loose Women'
Karren Brady(01 of12)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)
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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)