ITV staple Loose Women is set to get a brand-new full-time panellist in the form of Dame Kelly Holmes - who has applied for a role on the beloved daytime production.
The legendary sports star will join regulars Nadia Sawalha, Kaye Adams, Judi Love and Charlene White as a panellist, while Stacey Solomon, Linda Robson and Denise Welch will also make regular appearances.
Kelly has admitted that she's excited to be her 'authentic' self on the show now that she has opened out about her sexuality - revealing that she was gay to The Mirror earlier this year, telling that she can now be her true self completely.
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The Mirror reports that Dame Kelly will appear on the show for the first time on Monday (September 12).
In an interview with The Sun, she said: "I am extremely excited about joining Loose Women. Having met a few of the panellists recently, I know that the shows will be full of energy, smiles, tears and lots of laughs.
"I hope I can bring my energy to the show and I will be up for doing any mad experiences that they throw at me."
She added: "It will be so different to anything I have done before in my career, but now I have found my authentic voice since the airing of my documentary, I will join in on many conversations that I felt I never could before."
When Kelly opened up about being gay, she admitted that she was 'crying from relief', adding: "I needed to do this now, for me. It was my decision. I’m nervous about saying it. I feel like I’m going to explode with excitement.
"Sometimes I cry with relief. The moment this comes out, I’m essentially getting rid of that fear."
Loose Women’s editor Sally Shelford added: "We are thrilled and honoured to have Dame Kelly Holmes join the Loose Women panel. She is a national treasure and an inspiration to us all. We can’t wait to get her take on the topics of the day.
"Plus, she has already set us the challenge of taking her out of her comfort zone and putting her sense of adventure to the test."
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV.
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