Former Loose Women stars Carol McGiffin and Denise Welch said they have been “airbrushed” from the show’s history after they were left out of the programme’s 18th birthday celebrations.
The ITV daytime chat show marked its anniversary with a special episode celebrating its history but McGiffin and Welch were not included in the line-up.
Happy Birthday to us!!! #LooseWomen18 pic.twitter.com/eMCcYyDJ6w
— Loose Women (@loosewomen) September 8, 2017
McGiffin wrote on Twitter that she was “not furious, not surprised, just a teeny bit sad”.
When one fan expressed his upset that she was not featured, she wrote: “All is very well thanks, and it’s ok, I don’t mind being more or less airbrushed from LW history.”
All is very well thanks, and it's ok, I don't mind being more or less airbrushed from LW history 😂😂😂 Hope you're good too? xx
— Carol McGiffin (@McGiff) September 7, 2017
McGiffin appeared in more than 1,000 episodes of the popular chat show.
When another fan expressed his hope she would be on the anniversary programme, she replied: “Don’t be daft Aaron, I only did 13 years and over 1,000 shows, why would I even be asked???!!!”
Don't be daft Aaron, I only did 13 years and over 1,000 shows, why would I even be asked???!!! 🙄🙄🙄🍌🍌🍌xxx https://t.co/BFL3OcWbA1
— Carol McGiffin (@McGiff) September 7, 2017
Another viewer said he thought she had been missing from the archive footage aired and McGiffin responded: “You’re not the only one who noticed … it’s not like they didn’t have a lot of material to choose from! #1,174shows.”
You're not the only one who noticed….it's not like they didn't have a lot of material to choose from! #1,174shows 🙄 https://t.co/ZPH0klkhbB
— Carol McGiffin (@McGiff) September 7, 2017
Welch wrote on Twitter: “Thank you all for asking. I’m in Greece having a wonderful time. But no, I wasn’t asked to be part of @loosewomen celebrations.”
She added: “It was time for me to leave 4 yrs ago but sad to have been airbrushed when you share your life for 10 years.”
Thank you all for asking. I'm in Greece having a wonderful time. But no, I wasn't asked to be part of @loosewomen celebrations.
— Denise Welch (@RealDeniseWelch) September 8, 2017
It was time for me to leave 4 yrs ago but sad to have been airbrushed when you share your life for 10 years @loosewomen @McGiff ❤️
— Denise Welch (@RealDeniseWelch) September 8, 2017
When a fan asked McGiffin what she had done to be left out, she responded: “Dunno. Maybe it’s because We (the old gang) left and the show stopped winning awards? Who knows? X”
Dunno. Maybe it's because We (the old gang) left and the show stopped winning awards? Who knows? X https://t.co/3wdyQu1EeO
— Carol McGiffin (@McGiff) September 7, 2017
She also retweeted a message from the show’s official account, which read: “Soooooo many incredible women on the show over the past 18 years. Don’t miss the show tomorrow to celebrate! 12.30pm on @ITV #LooseWomen18”, adding: ” Yeah, don’t miss the show because sooooo many of those ‘incredible’ women won’t be on it!”
Yeah, don't miss the show because sooooo many of those 'incredible' women won't be on it! https://t.co/kjbe7eiaLg
— Carol McGiffin (@McGiff) September 7, 2017
She later wished the show a happy birthday, writing: “Happy 18th Birthday @loosewomen hope you’re not missing me too much!!!”
Happy 18th Birthday @loosewomen hope you're not missing me too much!!! 😘😘😘#LooseWomen18
— Carol McGiffin (@McGiff) September 8, 2017
The duo did get a special mention during the show, with panellist Kaye Adams saying: “We can’t leave out two classics. Carol McGiffin and Denise Welch have both been in touch to say happy birthday, two wonderful women who have done brilliantly well.”
A spokeswoman for ITV said: “We’ve had 166 incredible Loose Women over the years and we’ve tried to reflect as many of those as possible in our celebrations across the week.
“All of our panellists have played a huge part in Loose Women history which we’ll be celebrating today.”