Loose Women star Nadia Sawalha has reportedly been taken off the ITV daytime programme after sharing antisemitic conspiracy theories online. The broadcaster and actress, 61, made her first appearance on the panel show in 1999 and was a regular until 2002. She returned in 2013 and has typically appeared on a weekly basis since. However, according to reports, following her absence this week, Sawalha will not feature on next week’s Loose Women either, having been accused of sharing ‘unhinged’ theories with her audience.
Background and Husband's Controversy
Sawalha, also known for her roles in EastEnders, Casualty, and The Bill, runs a YouTube channel with her husband of over 20 years, Mark Adderley, 55. Adderley, a Green Party candidate in Croydon, was suspended last week ahead of the local elections after allegedly sharing ‘rants’ that compared Israel to Nazi Germany. These included a video reposted from another user that attributed responsibility for the Golders Green terror attack, in which two Jewish men were attacked with a knife, to Israel’s Prime Minister, Benjamin Netanyahu. Another is said to have celebrated the ‘courage’ of the Hamas October 7 atrocities, while one allegedly blamed Jews for the 9/11 attacks and Australian Bondi Beach massacre last December.
Adderley later posted a response to his suspension, condemning the party by saying: ‘I genuinely thought the Green Party was supposed to be different, and was promising a beacon of hope in the dark, ugly world of British party politics. Instead, they have fallen at what feels like the first hurdle in Labour’s attempts to recreate the Corbyn antisemitism psychodrama of some years ago.’
Return to YouTube and Allegations of 'Dark Forces'
This morning, he and wife Sawalha returned to YouTube with their ‘Coffee Moaning’ live show, during which they reacted to the overnight election results. As reported by the Daily Mail, Sawalha accused ‘dark forces’ within the Labour Party of smearing her husband’s name. Both still supported the Greens at the polls. The publication adds, however, that the joint channel contains ‘dangerous’ posts.
‘People both on and off camera at ITV have complained to bosses about the nature of the YouTube channel, which has become increasingly conspiratorial and looks like antisemitism, disguised as anti-Israel rhetoric,’ said an insider. ‘A number of colleagues fear Nadia has brought this upon herself through her dangerous posting and there is growing concern for her mental health.’
Sawalha, who last appeared on Loose Women in late April, and ITV bosses now reportedly need some ‘space’ before she goes back, with a review set to be held before she appears in front of cameras again. ‘We love Nadia. She’s a great Loose Woman,’ a show source claimed. ‘There has been a lot going on so Loose Women is having some space from her for some calm.’
Campaign Against Antisemitism Calls for Investigation
Campaign Against Antisemitism had already called for the network to investigate the star, asking, ‘What sort of “dark forces” is [she] referring to?’ when placing blame for her husband’s suspension. ‘You expect spouses to be loyal, but appearing to double down on the sort of conspiratorial tropes that her husband has been promoting and that presumably prompted his suspension from the Green Party is not the way to go about it,’ a spokesperson had said. They argued that the scrutiny has potentially made Sawalha ‘just a little too loose-tongued to stay in post’ at Loose Women.
The new reports follow Sawalha voicing her support for her partner after his suspension, as she shared a 21-minute social media speech about him being unfairly ‘slandered’. She declared Adderley ‘the most decent, kind, super smart man with the hugest of hearts’.
Support for Husband and Ongoing Controversy
Sawalha also insisted that her husband’s actions had been ‘totally altruistic’ and he is now in the ‘punishment phase’ of ‘bravely [speaking] up for the Palestinians in a way very few people’ have ‘the courage’ to do. Adderley’s name still appeared on ballot papers yesterday in Crystal Palace and Upper Norwood, as his candidacy was confirmed on April 9.
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX. ITV and reps for Nadia Sawalha have been contacted for comment.
