'Loose Women' star Saira Khan has revealed how she hid her husband from her family for four years before they eventually got married.
The former 'Apprentice' star, who was raised Muslim, told her fellow panellists of how she risked being disowned by her relatives after she refused to have an arranged marriage, instead beginning a relationship with a non-religious, white man, Steve Hyde.
Saira made the emotional revelation during Monday's (20 June) edition of the ITV daytime show, when she and fellow panellists Kaye Adams, Nadiya Hussain and Nadia Sawalha were tasked with delivering their own versions of a wedding day speech.
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Saira Khan opened up about resisting an arranged marriage on 'Loose Women'
ITV
"I can't believe I am sitting her with my family and friends wearing a white dress and getting married to you Steve," she began.
"What was destined for me was something very different, an arranged marriage to a man I didn't know from a far away country that I didn't grow up in and with a culture that was alien to my British upbringing.
"I kept you secret for four years from my family because I am not supposed to have boyfriends before marriage. If people found out we were together we would have been torn apart. Thank you for being patient and understanding of my cultural obstacles.
"I was determined to marry for love because who I choose to love and live with is my human right and Steve you are my true love and you are my human right."
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Saira hid her husband Steve Hyde from her family for four years
ITV
She continued: "I risked being disowned and frowned upon and hated because I as a Muslim girl had married a white, non-religious man. I don't care what others think because I am marrying the kindest, smartest and most patient human being that has ever walked this earth.
"You are a true gentleman. P.S. Don’t be expecting any hanky panky tonight because I am exhausted," she joked.
Saira and Steve's marriage recently hit the headlines when she admitted she'd given him permission to sleep with other women.
Steve admitted her felt "devastated" about his wife comments, saying: “It’s something that I would never contemplate doing and never think about doing.
“The idea for me, of what people talk about as an open relationship is, well it’s just not for me, it’s nonsense. So I felt really troubled, I felt heartbroken that she had got to such a point really, such a low point that she felt the need to say something like that.”
'Loose Women' airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV.
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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)