Carol McGiffin quit Loose Women after she made comments in public about the Covid-19 pandemic, it has been reported.
A disagreement is said to have broken out between 63-year-old Carol and ITV bosses over the question of free speech and expression.
It is alleged that an interview Carol gave to TNT talk radio prompted the disagreement due to comments she made to suggest that news organisations had been ‘brainwashing’ the public over the risks of Covid in order to spark widespread mental health breakdowns.
She also suggested the then health secretary Matt Hancock attempted to bring Covid patients from France to the UK to fill empty hospital beds while the pandemic raged.
The Mail on Sunday suggests that ITV has been flooded with complaints following Carol’s radio interview and pressure had been mounting for her to be fired.
The Mirror has contacted ITV for comment.
She told James Freeman’s The Freeman Report: "I always look back at when I started working in television and radio as the good old days because they were much less policed, I suppose. Much less restricted and it was a freer place to be.
"When I look back at the old Loose Womens I used to do from 2000 all the until I left in 2013, they're completely different. There is so much offence. People take so much offence at so much and they never used to."
Last Thursday, Carole announced she would not return to Loose Women following a disagreement with ITV bosses over her contract which is said to have been in renegotiation since January.
She said: "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''.
"No one in their right mind would have signed that contract."
Meanwhile, an ITV spokesman told the Mail on Sunday: "ITV will not comment on speculation around individual contracts.
"We understand Carol has decided to leave Loose Women and we wish her well."
Carol has received support from some of her Loose Women costars - who have rushed to social media to defend her.
Brenda Edwards commented on Instagram : "Carol, I always enjoy when you are on as we have such a laugh, but you of course must always do what is best for you! I really hope I get to see you again love you lots lovely lady. Keep Smiling."
While Denise Welch stated she was "gutted" to see Carol go.
And Nadia Sawahla wrote: "Miss you smelly poo! Even though we disagreed on most things you’ve always made me laugh my head off!"
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