Nadia Sawalha, the 61-year-old television personality, has threatened legal action against ITV, alleging that she was removed from the panel show Loose Women because of her public support for Palestine. Sawalha claims she was taken "on and off" the programme following what she describes as an "escalating campaign and smears" that called for her dismissal.
Legal Threat and Petition
In addition to the lawsuit, Sawalha has launched a petition demanding a public apology from ITV and her reinstatement on the show. The petition has already gathered more than 20,000 signatures, indicating significant public support for her cause.
In a video shared on Instagram, Sawalha expressed her sadness over the situation, stating: "I want to say how sad I am that it's got to this. Believe me, I have appealed to ITV's hearts and minds, but to no avail." She further explained that after she began speaking publicly in support of Palestine in December 2023, she became the target of a coordinated campaign involving smears, complaints, hostile media coverage, and targeted calls for her removal from Loose Women.
Allegations of Shifting Goalposts
The panellist said she was removed from the programme in July 2026 and accused ITV of "forever changing the goalposts." She noted that ITV could not guarantee she would not be taken off again, as it would depend on what was said, even though she is hired for being an opinionated woman on a discussion show and has never directly discussed Palestine on the programme.
"This is the tip of the iceberg of what's been happening," Sawalha added, suggesting that the removal is part of a broader pattern of silencing dissent.
Petition Aims to Show Support
Sawalha launched the petition to demonstrate that "many more people are with us than against us." She highlighted that she is not alone in facing consequences for her beliefs, citing teachers, doctors, nurses, charity and supermarket workers, and students who have spoken according to their conscience and suffered similar fates.
"Enough is enough," she declared. "We need to send a clear message to ITV and other groups and corporations that we won't be scared into silence, and no-one should be bullied out of their job for following their conscience and speaking out against brutal oppression."
ITV Response and Background
ITV has been contacted for comment but has not yet responded publicly. Sawalha joined the ITV show in 1999 as one of the original panellists alongside Kaye Adams, Jane Moore, and Karren Brady. She took a maternity break in 2002 and returned to the programme in 2013. She is also known for her role as Annie Palmer on EastEnders in the late 1990s.
The situation has sparked debate about freedom of expression and the treatment of employees who voice political opinions. Sawalha's legal action and petition highlight ongoing tensions between personal beliefs and professional roles in the media industry.
