Sherrie Hewson has criticised ITV’s Loose Women, claiming the daytime show has become “too woke” and lost the edge that once made it a hit with viewers.
The former panellist, who appeared on the programme for over a decade, said the series is now more “formulaic” and “subdued” than in its early years.
The 75-year-old, who was a regular on the show between 2003 and 2016, made the remarks in a new interview with Zingo Bingo.
Ms Hewson reflected on what she described as a freer and more outspoken era during her time on the panel.
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Sherrie Hewson called out the ITV talk show
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“We were very free because we didn't think anybody was watching. It wasn't ‘woke’ times, so we could say anything,” she said.
“We could discuss what we wanted, but now you can't. It's a very different time.
“You have to be controlled and you have to, you can't say this, you can't say that.”
The presenter recalled frequent on-air clashes with fellow panellists, including Janet Street Porter and Carol McGiffin, describing the show as more unpredictable in its earlier years.
Sherrie Hewson emotionally announced she was leaving the show in 2016
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“Janet and I always had a right barney and had proper rows,” she said.
“I always used to tell her to shut up and she used to have a go at me, but you couldn't do that now.”
She added: “It was just very free. It was just women talking.”
Ms Hewson suggested that the programme’s tone has shifted significantly as its structure has evolved over time.
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Sherrie Hewson was a regular on the show between 2003 and 2016,
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“Sadly, that went with the structure as it changed, and became very formulaic,” she said.
“It's completely changed again and it's now very structured - very what I would call, subdued. We were never like that.”
The actress also expressed disappointment over the removal of key elements she believes contributed to the show’s original success.
Ms Hewson said the absence of both a live studio audience and high-profile guests has altered the programme’s atmosphere.
“Losing the guests is sad because it was so wonderful to have all those guests on,” she said.
“Losing an audience is also sad because you need that response, that laughter, that lovely kind of silliness that we all had at that time.”
During her time on the panel, Ms Hewson appeared alongside presenters including Coleen Nolan, Andrea McLean and Lisa Maxwell.
She said the cast also supported one another through personal challenges behind the scenes.
“I had my divorce at one point, and I had a lot of stress. I lost all my hair and I had to wear a wig,” she said.
“Those girls all supported me, particularly Coleen Nolan, who I was very close to, and Carol.”
Ms Hewson also looked back on her appearance on Celebrity Big Brother, revealing her former co-stars followed her time on the show closely.
“They were funny when I went to Big Brother,” she said. “When I came out, I remember Nadia and Coleen saying, ‘Oh my God, we watched it’.”
Despite her criticisms, Ms Hewson acknowledged that television has inevitably changed over time.
However, she suggested that the current climate makes it difficult for programmes like Loose Women to retain the same level of openness.
“With ‘woke’ now, it’s very hard for them to be that free like we were,” she said.