Carol McGiffin, the outspoken star who became a key figure on Loose Women over the years, has revealed that she is officially stepping away from mainstream television. The 66-year-old broadcaster, known for her candid opinions, made her final exit from Loose Women in 2023 after several years on the show, and now she says she has no plans to return.
Speaking frankly about her decision, Carol admitted, “It’s too difficult to work in television anymore,” adding that she has no interest in being part of mainstream TV. “Not that anyone would employ me!” she joked, highlighting how much the landscape of television has changed.
Carol first joined Loose Women in 2000 and remained with the show until 2013, before returning for a brief period from 2018 until 2023. During her time on the panel, Carol became known for her blunt and often controversial remarks, but it was the political climate during the pandemic that made her feel increasingly out of place on the show.
The former Celebrity Big Brother star shared that tensions with some panellists reached a peak when she refused to get the COVID-19 vaccine. “They didn’t like what I was saying,” she explained, adding that certain colleagues became frustrated with her views, particularly when it came to issues like the war in Ukraine. Carol recalled a massive row with co-panellist Kaye Adams over her reluctance to take a definitive stance on the war, which further pushed her away from the show’s more politically charged environment.
Reflecting on the changes in TV and media, Carol noted how the industry had become much more “policed” and “restricted,” making it harder for her to thrive in such an environment. “I look back at the old Loose Women shows and they were completely different. There’s so much offence now—people take offence at everything.”
Carol’s departure comes after a long and storied career in television, where she was not afraid to speak her mind, but she now seems content with stepping away from the spotlight. Her fans, however, will likely miss her candid commentary, but it seems that Carol McGiffin is ready for the next chapter of her life, far from the TV world she once ruled.
