Alan Carr Takes Swipe at Loose Women Over NTA Voting Campaign

Alan Carr has poked fun at Loose Women over its determined campaign to secure votes for this year’s National Television Awards, calling the show’s repeated appeals for support a little “desperate.”

The comedian made the remarks while discussing the ITV daytime programme with fellow comedian Lee Peart on their Bottoms Up podcast. His comments come soon after his friend Denise Welch left Loose Women after 26 years, choosing to step away from the programme to concentrate on acting.

Alan Carr Jokes About Loose Women’s NTA Campaign

Loose Women is nominated for Best Daytime Show at this year’s National Television Awards, where it faces competition from Good Morning Britain, This Morning, James Martin’s Saturday Morning and Scam Interceptors.

Speaking to Lee Peart in a clip shared on TikTok this week, Alan questioned the extent of the show’s efforts to encourage viewers to vote.

“Remember when Loose Women are nominated for an NTA, every day, every ad break, I mean, a bit desperate,” Alan said.

He quickly made clear that the comment was meant affectionately, adding: “I’m just saying, we all love Loose Women, but a bit desperate.”

Lee agreed with him and recalled his own experience working as a warm-up act for the programme. According to Lee, he was once asked to encourage members of the studio audience to vote for Loose Women before filming began.

“I agree. You know, when I was their warm-up, they asked me to go out before the show to get people to vote,” Lee explained.

Alan then jokingly asked whether the audience had effectively been “physically forced” to vote.

“On the phones. I said, this is not my job, I won’t do it,” Lee replied.

Alan is also in the running for an NTA, with his own programme Changing Ends receiving a nomination.

Although Alan made it clear that he still has affection for Loose Women, his description of the show’s voting push amused viewers on TikTok.

Denise Welch Leaves Loose Women After 26 Years

Alan’s comments come shortly after Denise Welch announced her departure from Loose Women.

Denise, 68, revealed last week that she was stepping down from the ITV programme so she could focus on acting, which she described as her first love. She had recently been offered a number of new roles.

Denise first appeared on Loose Women in 2000 and went on to become one of the programme’s most recognisable panellists. She left the show for around seven years before returning in 2018.

Her final appearance came on June 29.

In an Instagram video announcing her decision, Denise reflected on how closely the show had become tied to her life and that of her family.

“I’m leaving Loose Women,” she said.

“After best part of 25 years, off and on, I did leave for about seven years and went back in 2018. This show has been a part of me and my family’s life for nearly a quarter of a century.”

Denise explained that acting had always been her first love and said the opportunities currently coming her way had convinced her that it was time to begin a new chapter.

“I have the most wonderful, wonderful memories and it’s just that acting has always been my first love and I think the thing I’m best at, and at the moment I’m having the most wonderful opportunities coming my way,” she said.

“I’m grabbing them by the you know whats and running with it for this new chapter of my life.”

Denise Insists She Will Stay Friends With Her Co-Stars

Denise also used her farewell message to thank the viewers who had followed her career and shared in the personal stories she had discussed on the programme.

She acknowledged that she had always divided opinion, saying she was “very Marmite,” but added that she valued the comments she had received over the years, whether positive or negative.

Despite reports of tensions behind the scenes, Denise insisted that she would remain close to her former co-stars.

“I’ll miss everybody but I will remain friends with the whole gang because… we are a happy band of campers,” she said.

She ended the message by thanking viewers for their support and sending them “lots of love.”

Denise’s departure follows a period in which she has continued to pursue acting opportunities. She recently appeared in the Channel 4 drama Tip Toe and is due to star in an adaptation of Graham Norton’s novel Forever Home.

Loose Women Pays Tribute to Denise

A spokesperson for Loose Women praised Denise following her announcement and said the programme would miss her.

“Denise has been such a brilliant part of the Loose Women family and we are going to miss her hugely on the show,” the spokesperson said.

“We are sending her all of our love and best wishes for her next chapter.”

Denise’s exit marks the end of a long association with the ITV daytime programme, while Loose Women now continues its campaign for votes ahead of the National Television Awards.