Loose Women confirms addition of regular male panellists

Loose Women bosses are reportedly planning to welcome more male panellists to the daytime television show this year.

Male guests – including Peter Andre, Judge Rinder and Ed Balls – were introduced as honorary ‘Loose Men’ on the topical talk show towards the end of last year, taking part in various discussions, with a particular focus on real life and celebrity stories.

Although short-lived, it’s safe to say their appearances proved to be a hit with viewers as Linda Robson, who has frequently featured on the panel since 2003, recently revealed that ITV bosses are now planning to bring more men into the mix.

She told the Daily Star: “We won’t be doing it every week but it’ll be happening quite a lot. We’ll maybe do it every month – I think it really works.

“It depends on who they choose as the men. But the Judge Rinder one went down really well.”

And while the show’s producers will ultimately make the final decision on which male celebrities join the prized panel, the ‘Birds of a Feather’ actress revealed a few of the famous faces that would appear in her dream line-up.

She said: “I’d love to have Russell Brand on to do it. He’d be a great Loose Man and I’d like Sean Bean. I think he would be honest.”

Despite these prospective changes, the 58-year-old presenter insisted that the lunchtime show would never be taken over by an all-male panel, as she doesn’t believe the format would necessarily work with a complete gender shift.

She explained: “I don’t think men open up as much as women so they won’t do it with an all-male panel. But it works when there are two men and two women on the panel because we coax the answers out of them.”

Linda also revealed her hopes of success at the National TV Awards after it was previously announced that Loose Women had been shortlisted for the live magazine show gong – alongside the likes of This Morning, Sunday Brunch and The One Show – this year.

The star admitted: “This Morning normally win. But I’m hoping it will be our turn this year.”

Loose Women is on ITV weekdays at 12.30pm.

Tune into the National Television Awards live on ITV from 7.30 on Wednesday 25th Jan.