Loose Women rivals
Shake-up on the panel causes controversy...
10:34 12 March 2012
Loose Women star Denise Welch is reportedly refusing to appear on the panel show alongside fellow star Janet Street-Porter.
The Celebrity Big Brother winner allegedly told producers that she feels uncomfortable around the legendary journalist, reports the Sunday Mirror.
The situation is said to have caused chaos for production staff, who have had to take steps to ensure the pair don't end up on the panel together.
A source told the publication:
"To say relations between Denise and Janet are frosty would be an understatement. The reality is they really don't like each other and they probably never will.
"Janet considers herself to be a feminist intellectual while Denise is a salt-of-the-earth northern lass who really enjoys letting her hair down. They have got absolutely nothing in common and would rather have nothing to do with each other.
"When Denise heard Janet was joining Loose Women last year she was pretty shocked. The production staff realise this show is all about the chemistry of the panel so they respected her Âwishes.
"But both women are professionals, so if a situation arose where they had to go on for the good of the show, they would swallow their pride and get on with it."
Street-ÂPorter and comedienne Jenny Eclair joined the show last year as part of a revamp to boost flagging ratings.
A spokeswoman for the programme said:
"The mix of panellists each day is decided by the production team and not the talent."