Carol McGiffin has explained her absence from Loose Women, after 'rowing' with ITV over contracts.
The presenter and TV personality hasn't been on the show for a couple of months, with fans wondering where she has got to. Now, Carol has opened up about the contract clash she is locked in with ITV, which has prevented her from starring on the show.
Carol explained she has experienced a lot of "stress" from what has happened so far and feels "quite upset" by it all, as she feels she has been forced to make a decision to step back from the programme due to the "unjust" contract.
Speaking to Best magazine, she said: "I haven't been on the show for two months now because I've had to step away from it. It was causing me too much stress, which was mostly down to a difficult contract issue I'd been challenging since January.
"The problem was, ITV were insisting, for the first time since I went back in 2018, that if I wanted to carry on doing the show, I would have to sign a contract that was totally unjust and unworkable for me, so I had to say 'no thanks.'"
Carol went on to admit she felt "quite upset" about what had happened - and won't be joining the Loose Women on tour.
"I feel quite upset about it, if I'm honest, because although it is my decision, I felt like it was one I was being forced to make. No one in their right mind would have signed that contract. And I can't see a way back from it."
Carol's words come as ITV has been hit by changes by HMRC to tax legislation.
It is now up to ITV to decide whether a role is employed or self-employed for tax purposes from April 2021.
It is understood some panellists on the daytime show work freelance, declaring themselves self-employed.
But now some have been told to go on a PAYE contract - meaning that instead of corporation tax at 19%, they will have to pay 40% on earnings between £50,271 and £150,000, plus National Insurance.
ITV sources say the broadcaster has communicated the change to all those concerned across the channel and that assessments are done on a "case-by-case basis".
An ITV spokeswoman has previously said: "ITV complies with HMRC legislation when assessing the tax status of individuals. ITV will not comment on or disclose any individual's specific circumstances."
Carol isn't shy of saying how she feels, and is known for her frank opinions about various topics. Earlier this year, she fumed at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle over their Netflix documentary, as the other panellists rushed to defend them.
"I'm boycotting it, not actively, but I'm just not really interested. I'm just fed up with these two," Carol fumed at the time, "They originally left the UK to preserve their privacy and what they've done is sell it to Netflix. This is what annoys me about it. If they want to tell it, I don't care but don't try and manipulate me into wanting to watch it."
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