Loose Women panellist Nadia Sawalha has threatened legal action against ITV, claiming the broadcaster dropped her for speaking out in support of Palestinian rights. A legal organisation representing her has sent a pre-action letter to ITV, alleging the broadcaster "subjected Nadia to direct discrimination, indirect discrimination and harassment because of her protected philosophical beliefs".
In an Instagram video, external, Sawalha said she had become "the target of an escalating campaign of smears, complaints, hostile media coverage and targeted calls to have me removed from Loose Women". She added: "Since then, ITV have taken me on and off Loose Women a number of times." has asked ITV for comment.
The presenter said she "began speaking publicly in support of Palestine in December 2023", two months after the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel and Israel's subsequent military campaign in Gaza. She said she was "speaking out against brutal oppression", but her critics have accused her of promoting false claims and conspiracies about Israel and Jewish people.
Two newspapers that previously accused Sawalha and her husband of antisemitism and supporting terrorism have since issued apologies and paid damages, external to the couple. In her video, Sawalha said she had "mostly been told" by ITV that "the reason for [my removal] was, and I quote, 'It's all a bit noisy out there for us'".
Why does she say ITV kept removing her?
The controversy, she alleges, prompted ITV to remove her on repeated occasions from the line-up of its long-running lunchtime programme. "ITV have continued to take me on and off Loose Women, forever changing the goalposts whilst also saying they couldn't guarantee they wouldn't take me off again as it would depend on what was said," she said.
Sawalha added that she was "hired for being an opinionated woman on a discussion show and I've never brought up or spoken about Palestine directly on the show". The presenter also said she wanted to express "how sad I am that it's got to this - believe me, I have appealed to ITV's hearts and minds, but to no avail".
The European Legal Support Center (ELSC), external, which supports pro-Palestinian cases, has written to ITV on her behalf, alleging she has been discriminated against because of her "anti-Zionist beliefs, which are protected under the Equality Act 2010".
Sawalha has appeared regularly on the daytime panel show, which sees four female media personalities discuss topical subjects, since 2013. She also had an earlier stint on the panel between 1999 and 2002, shortly after playing Annie Palmer in EastEnders.
Her other TV credits include Casualty and The Bill, and she is also a former winner of Celebrity MasterChef.
What is the background to the dispute?
The dispute centres on Sawalha's public support for Palestinians and ITV's handling of her appearances on Loose Women. She says she began speaking publicly in support of Palestine in December 2023, after the 7 October Hamas attacks on Israel and Israel's military campaign in Gaza, and that the backlash has included smears, complaints and hostile media coverage.
Her critics have accused her of spreading false claims and conspiracies about Israel and Jewish people. Two newspapers that had previously accused Sawalha and her husband of antisemitism and supporting terrorism have since apologised and paid damages, external, to the couple.
The ELSC's letter to ITV argues that the broadcaster discriminated against her because of beliefs it says are protected under the Equality Act 2010. ITV has not yet publicly responded, and has asked the broadcaster for comment.
How long has Sawalha been on Loose Women?
Sawalha has been a regular presence on Loose Women since 2013, and she previously appeared on the panel between 1999 and 2002. Her television career also includes roles in EastEnders, where she played Annie Palmer, as well as credits in Casualty and The Bill, and she later won Celebrity MasterChef.
In her comments, Sawalha said ITV had told her the reason for her removal was, "It's all a bit noisy out there for us", while also warning that they could not guarantee she would not be taken off again. She said the broadcaster had "forever changing the goalposts".
She also said she was saddened that matters had reached this point and that she had tried to appeal to ITV "hearts and minds". The row now raises questions about how broadcasters handle on-air talent whose public views become controversial outside the studio.
Key Facts
- Nadia Sawalha has threatened legal action against ITV over her removal from Loose Women.
- A letter from the European Legal Support Center alleges direct discrimination, indirect discrimination and harassment.
- Sawalha says she began speaking publicly in support of Palestine in December 2023.
- She has appeared on Loose Women regularly since 2013 and previously from 1999 to 2002.
- has asked ITV for comment.
