Janet Street-Porter has been one of the longest serving panellists on the show after joining in 2011, and she has now shed light on what the future holds for her on the show
The Loose Women star slammed ITV as she “confirmed” her future
Loose Women star Janet Street-Porter has opened up about her future on the hit ITV show amid much upheaval for the programme.
Janet Street-Porter first stepped foot onto the Loose Women set back in 2011 and has been a regular on the show ever since.
But it wasn’t her first foray into the media industry. After going to university to study architecture, she later quit in a bid to get into fashion journalism.
After progressing quickly, she was appointed fashion editor of the Daily Mail in her early twenties.
Later making the switch to TV, she has, in recent years, been a focal part of the Loose Women panel. Amid significant changes at the show, she now stands as one of its longest-serving panellists.
She first appeared on Loose Women in 2011(Image: LightRocket via Getty Images)
One major change came in May when ITV announced that it would be reducing the show’s run from 52 weeks to just 30, starting in 2026. Giving her verdict on the decision, she recently told The Guardian: “I don’t agree with how they’ve done the cuts.”
Janet confirmed that she will remain on the show (Image: Dave Benett/Getty Images)
In light of the news that the show will see a reduction in output, Janet revealed she is certain about where she stands regarding her future on the programme: “Oh, I know I’m going to keep that job. Don’t waste your bloody time trying to get a scoop on that.”
There have also been reports of several other changes, including the cutting of 220 jobs, the removal of celebrity guests, and the axing of the live audience element.
Janet is one of the longest serving members of the show
Another star of the show, Nadia Sawalha, shared her thoughts on the loss of the live audience, telling her Coffee Moaning podcast: “From next year there will be no Loose Women audience,” adding, “I am totally devastated by this fact. I can’t get over it at all.”
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In recent years, the show has introduced a number of new faces, with former Coronation Street star Sue Cleaver now a permanent panellist on the show alongside ex-Love Islander Olivia Attwood. Podcaster GK Barry became the youngest panellist when she joined the show last year.
BBC Sport’s Alex Scott, Nedum Onuha, Anita Asante and Steph Houghton look at why Norway were awarded a penalty in their quarter-final against Italy, despite forward Ada Hergerberg being in an offside position.
Liverpool are in advanced talks to sign Eintracht Frankfurt striker Hugo Ekitike in a deal worth more than £70m.
Multiple sources have indicated that Liverpool aim to have the transfer wrapped up by this weekend.
Newcastle have had a £70m offer for Ekitike rejected by Frankfurt, with Liverpool’s offer expected to surpass it.
Liverpool have also shown a major interest in Newcastle striker Alexander Isak, but the Magpies are adamant the Swede is not for sale at any price.
Liverpool have signed midfielder Florian Wirtz in a potential British record £116m deal this summer and paid £40m and £30m respectively for full-backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong.
London, United Kingdom – Khaled Abdalla remembers sitting on his father’s shoulders as a three-year-old, peering over a sea of heads and waving flags as chants of “free Palestine” rose around him.
It was the early 1980s, a time when hearing “Palestine” was rare in the United Kingdom.
The details of those moments in Glasgow are faint, but he remembers how important the protest felt to his father and the crowds around them.
“I’ve had a relationship with protest for Palestinian liberation since then,” Abdalla told Al Jazeera.
Decades later, the Egyptian British actor – most known for his roles in The Kite Runner and The Crown – is still marching. But now he carries the weight of his public platform.
“After October 7, my first act was at The Crown premiere in LA, with ‘Ceasefire Now’ written on my hand,” he said.
“I didn’t know if that would immediately terminate my career. But it opened up a space far more positive than I expected. In standing up, I found my people, and my people found me.”
Since then, Abdalla has used every stage he can. At the Emmys, he wrote “Never Again” on his palm before stepping onto the red carpet.
“Each time I’ve done something like that, there has been fear,” he said, adding that while being cancelled does not worry him, he sometimes feels uncertain about how his protests might be received.
“My first protest was on my father’s shoulders when I was three. I don’t want that to be the fate of my grandchildren.”
Sharing opinions about the onslaught in Gaza, particularly as a public figure, is fraught with tension in the UK, as criticising Israel’s military actions can lead to accusations of anti-Semitism.
Israel launched its latest war on Gaza after Hamas, the group that governs the enclave, led an incursion into Israel during which about 1,200 people were killed and 250 taken captive. Since then, Israeli bombardment of Gaza has killed almost 60,000 people and destroyed the majority of civilian sites.
Writer and comedian Alexei Sayle addresses a protest in support of Palestine and Lebanon in Trafalgar Square on October 19, 2024 in London, England [Guy Smallman/Getty Images]
For 72-year-old Alexei Sayle, a veteran British Jewish comedian who has long been an outspoken supporter of Palestinian rights, silence is not an option.
In December 2023, his “alternative Christmas message” posted to his social media channels went viral, as his words about politicians’ alleged lies and complicity in Israel’s assault resonated with thousands.
“It was clear from very early on that Gaza was going to be different,” Sayle told Al Jazeera. “The Israelis were going to do what they are doing, really. And nobody seemed likely to stop them. This was going to be another step forward in the Zionist project – the expulsion or murder, the ethnic cleansing or elimination of the Palestinian people, with the complicity of the West.
“If you remain silent during this holocaust, then you would have remained silent during that holocaust. I think the comparison is justified.”
He said he has no fears when rallying for Palestine.
“It’s the younger artists who risk cancellation by speaking out,” he said. “As an elderly Jew in show business, I’m in a position like Miriam Margolyes or Michael Rosen – a sort of protected status,” he added, referring to the British actor and children’s author, respectively, both of whom are Jewish and have condemned Israel’s war.
Comedians and artists are used to holding a mirror up, he said.
“Throughout history, comedians have been the ones to point out the excesses of government. That is our role. Politicians have sacrificed whatever moral compassion or humanity they had. There is clearly a moral void at the heart of this government.
“They are frightened cowards. They care about their job more than they care about children being murdered.”
Even so, he knows activism has limits.
“Positive change does not come just from demonstrations,” he said. “There needs to be a relentless focus on political gain and political power as well, and that is the only way that life will get better, both for the people of Britain and for those abroad, whose lives we are complicit in destroying.”
Abdalla shared this view.
“Is it stopping the genocide? No, not yet,” he said. “But is it making a difference? Absolutely.
“There’s been a shift in global consciousness, but there hasn’t yet been an avalanche… It’s our job to make that avalanche happen.”
Sayle and Abdalla are preparing for another weekend of protest mixed with art. They will be among 20 artists, comedians, musicians and humanitarians at Voices of Solidarity, a one-night-only fundraiser for Palestine, on July 19 in London.
The singer Paloma Faith, doctor Ghassan Abu Sittah, actor Juliet Stevenson and comedians Sami Abu Wardeh and Tadhg Hickey are also on the lineup.
As Gaza continues to be bombed, more Britons are critical of Israeli policies.
Last month, a survey carried out by YouGov and commissioned by the Action for Humanity charity and the International Centre of Justice for Palestinians (ICJP) advocacy group found that 55 percent of Britons are against Israel’s aggression. A significant number of those opponents – 82 percent – said Israel’s actions amount to genocide.
“Yes, there is a move away [from politicians], particularly because of frustration with the lack of action,” said Dina Matar, head of the Centre for Global Media and Communications at SOAS.
She said the turn towards artists for moral clarity reflects public disillusionment with formal politics.
“The implications might not be seen immediately, but will be reflected in public rejection of official party politics … We need to continue efforts by all – and here thanks to all these artists – to educate people about the aims of these policies and to make clear the association between capitalism and the settler-colonial state.”
Jacob Mukherjee, a professor of political communication at Goldsmiths University in London, said artists and cultural figures are stepping into a political vacuum, a role shaped by history.
Since the counterculture movements of the 1960s, musicians and artists have often voiced popular discontent, he said. This is partly due to what sociologists describe as the inherently oppositional and radical culture of artistic spaces, and partly because art is capable of expressing the public mood.
“In the UK, like much of Western Europe and North America, governments have largely remained loyal to what they perceive to be the wishes and interests of the USA,” he said.
But while artists can voice discontent and spread awareness, “there are limits to what artists and cultural movements can do.
“Without effective new parties, the disconnect between public opinion and political elites will only grow,” he said. “History shows us political reform needs political movements, too.”
Paloma Faith speaks as pro-Palestinian demonstrators protest through central London on June 21, 2025 [Isabel Infantes/Reuters]
United States senators have passed a package of sweeping cuts that would slash Washington’s foreign aid expenditures by about $8bn as part of President Donald Trump’s pledge to drastically shrink federal spending.
The package, which passed in a 51-48 vote early on Thursday, cancels $9bn in spending already approved by Congress, including more than $1bn to be stripped from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Two of the Senate’s 53 Republicans voted with Democrats against the legislation.
The vote was seen as a test of how easily senators would approve spending cuts recommended by Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
The president, who has made slashing federal spending a domestic priority, established the department and had put billionaire tech mogul Elon Musk at the helm to identify areas for government cost-cutting before the SpaceX and Tesla CEO left in May. A public spat between Musk and Trump over deficit spending erupted a short time later.
Food for starving children in Afghanistan, Pakistan to be burned
Much of the $8bn in foreign aid cuts under the “rescissions” package, which now returns to the House of Representatives for final approval, had been allocated to the now-defunct US Agency for International Development (USAID), a prime target for DOGE.
The agency, which was established during the Cold War to run aid programmes and project US soft power internationally, closed its doors this month after the Trump administration’s announcement in January that it was shutting down USAID.
Within the funding that was cut was $4.15bn to boost economies and strengthen democratic institutions in developing countries, The Associated Press news agency reported.
The package also cancelled $800m for a programme that assists with emergency shelter, water, sanitation and family reunification for people fleeing their homelands as well as $496m for food, water and healthcare in countries affected by natural disasters or conflicts.
A senior US official said on Wednesday that nearly 500 tonnes of high-energy biscuits intended to feed 27,000 starving children in Afghanistan and Pakistan would soon be incinerated due to the Trump administration’s decision to shut down USAID.
‘A bunch of junk’
Democrats argued that weakening foreign aid efforts would diminish the US’s global status and leave a vacuum that would be filled by rivals like China.
Senator Brian Schatz said cutting food aid and disease prevention measures was having life-and-death consequences, AP reported.
“People are dying right now, not in spite of us but because of us,” he said.
But Senator Lindsey Graham, a Republican, told the AFP news agency that while he was a “big fan” of foreign aid and the soft power it brought, he believed money was being wasted.
“When you start spending money on a bunch of junk and liberal programmes disconnected from the purpose of the aid package, it makes it difficult on a guy like me,” he said.
Republican leaders had removed a $400m cut to an HIV prevention programme from the package after requests from its own lawmakers. The programme is credited with saving millions of lives.
US Constitution’s ideals ‘undermined’
The cuts to public broadcasting, which Republicans have accused of having a left-wing bias, also met with fierce objections. Democrats said they would remove a key public service that performs a vital role, particularly during emergencies like natural disasters.
The package cancels $1.1bn that the Corporation for Public Broadcasting was due to receive over the next two years. It would help fund National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS) as well as more than 1,500 local radio and television stations.
Democrats said the rescissions package, by cutting $9bn from a $6.8 trillion federal budget, would do little to meaningfully tackle the deficit but would harm important public institutions.
“It is yet another example of the spirit and ideals of our constitution being undermined in a terrible way,” New Jersey Senator Cory Booker told AFP.
Others, including Senator Mitch McConnell, the former Republican Senate leader, expressed concerns about ceding congressional spending powers to the president, saying he was worried about handing the White House a “blank cheque” on spending issues, AP reported. But he ultimately voted to approve the package.
I’ve just returned from a city break for which I had to pack light, and this flattering linen mini dress was the most versatile item I packed – and it currently has 39% off
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‘I found the perfect holiday linen dress’(Image: Laura Mulley)
Knowing what clothes to pack on a summer city break can be tricky, especially if you’re limited on suitcase space; you want items to be practical yet look nice, suitable for hot weather yet also city streets, and possibly see you through long days of exploring. Luckily, I think I’ve found just the item: a cooling linen dress that looks great and works hard.
On a recent three-day trip to Barcelona, the only dress I brought with me with this Linen A-Line Dress from & Other Stories. Simple yet flattering, it features a round neck, slightly dropped arm holes and is mid-thigh in length, and looks great with both flat sandals and heels (and even trainers). This made it the perfect outfit for me for both day and night.
It’s available in black and white, and is currently on sale on the H&M website, down from £77 to £47 for the black version and £57 for the white (which I’m seriously tempted to buy too).
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Laura’s must-have city break dress(Image: H&M, Laura Mulley)
I really love the shape; its high neck and slightly dropped arms give it a more flattering silhouette that a basic shift dress. Thanks to its A-line shape, if also doesn’t cling to sweaty legs.
Because it’s fully lined, I don’t wear a bra with it as I think the straps would show slightly; if you wanted something similar that hides bra straps better, & Other Stories also sells this linen dress with a slightly different shape.
Although linen will always crease, because my & Other Stories dress is black and lined, the creases aren’t obvious (I certainly didn’t bother steaming or ironing it in 30 degree heat).
I wore it during the day with my trusty Birkenstock Arizonas walking around the city, where we averaged about 20,000 steps every day, then changed to daintier-looking black Havaiana flip-flops for the evening. For me it’s the perfect summer city dress.
Also available in white(Image: H&M)
If you’re after some alternatives, Nobody’s Child does some excellent linen-blend summer dresses. We love the flattering waist tie on the Lottie, £69, while the Cora, £89, is a pretty midi dress option.
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For something more colourful or boldly printed, try Roman. This belted shirt dress, £39, would be great for holidays or the office, while this printed shift dress, £42, would also work well as a beach cover-up (and the green version is currently reduced to £32).