After leaving the panel around 15 months ago, Andrea McLean returned to Loose Women this week as a guest. Andrea was one of the anchors on the popular ITV daytime panel show for 13 years, but announced to viewers in November 2020 that she would be leaving.
A month later, in December 2020, Andrea appeared on Loose Women as a panellist for the final time. But this week, she came back as a 'very special guest', to sit on the panel alongside Ruth Langsford, Coleen Nolan, Kéllé Bryan and Katie Piper.
Making her return to the show for the first time in over a year, Andrea commented: "It feels really nice actually being a passenger on the bus and not the driver." She also said that returning was 'a bit out of body', the Manchester Evening News reports.
Ruth kicked off Andrea's appearance by mentioning her departure from Loose Women as a panelist. The 62-year-old said: "It was your decision to go. Was it brave now that you've done it?"
"Yes. At the time so many people were saying oh what a brave thing to do," Andrea responded.
"Or more like what a stupid thing to do - it was the middle of the pandemic and I was quitting my job to follow a dream. But yeah, I look back on it now and think it was a brave decision.
"I needed to jump and see if I could fly. I'm so glad I did."
In addition to her 'brave' decision to try something new, Andrea discussed her brand new book, and how departing from Loose Women became a 'catalyst' for her to write it. 'You Just Need to Believe It' was released on March 22, and encourages readers to change their lives in just ten days using ten ways outlined in the self-help book.
Ruth asked Andrea whether she had considered a return to television in the future. Ruth asked: "You haven't shut the door completely on TV or Loose Women..." To which Andrea replied: "Never!"
Although Andrea's appearance on the show marked a happy occasion, some Loose Women viewers were not happy with the fact Andrea had been called 'brave'. @MadameMinge tweeted: "Apart from the other #LooseWomen, who called Andrea brave?"
"#LooseWomen I hate the word brave being bounced around like that. Andrea isn't brave, Katie is, look what she has gone through and still going through," @Dc7073Bloss argued.
@BeddoesJill added: "Its nauseating hearing Ruth describe the saccharine sweet Andrea as being brave for leaving LW. That is not the definition of being brave in my world. #loosewomen."
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