Coleen Nolan has revealed her deep concerns about keeping up with her mortgage payments after Loose Women faced unexpected budget cuts that have left her with fewer episodes and, consequently, less pay.
The popular ITV talk show has been forced to scale back its schedule, cutting down the number of episodes each year due to ITV’s decision to slash the budget for daytime TV programming. As a result, all the panellists, including Coleen, are now appearing in fewer shows, which has created a significant financial strain for many of the stars.
“It’s a bit of a tough spot,” Coleen admitted during an interview with OK Magazine. “On one hand, it’s nice to have some extra time off, but on the other hand, I’ve got a mortgage to pay.”
Coleen, who has been part of the Loose Women family since 2001, explained that the pay-per-show model, which once provided a steady income, has left her worrying about finances. “We’re paid per show, and now with fewer shows, that’s obviously affected what I take home,” she said.
To help with the reduced income, Coleen has had to find other work. She’s signed up for E4’s Celebs Go Dating to make up for the money lost from the budget cuts.
The new, more restricted format of Loose Women is also weighing on her, as the show will be produced without a live audience and without the usual guest stars. “It’ll still be live, but without the audience and the usual buzz, it’ll feel like a podcast instead of a live TV show. It’s definitely going to be a strange change,” she explained.
Despite the major shake-up, Coleen made it clear there’s no drama backstage at the show. She said, “We all get on well. We’ve got a WhatsApp group where we support each other. It’s like having 20 extra sisters.”
While the changes to Loose Women have been tough, Coleen acknowledged that things could have been worse. “They could have axed the show completely, so we’re thankful it’s still on air,” she said.
Even though Coleen is facing a bit of a financial squeeze, she remains optimistic and supportive of her colleagues. With her loyal co-stars like Christine Lampard, Ruth Langsford, and Brenda Edwards, she’s not facing this challenge alone.
In the end, Coleen remains positive about her future in the TV industry, even if she has to adjust to a new reality. As she put it, “We’ll make it work—just like we always do.”