RUTH Langsford has been left devastated after one of her Loose Women pals quit the hit daytime show – as ITV battles a cash crisis and a backstage “bloodbath” of staff cuts.
The TV favourite, 64, is upset as her pal and long-serving Loose Women producer has been axed amid the brutal shake-up.
Ruth Langsford is devastated as her “lovely friend” leaves Loose Women[/caption]
The producer has been on the ITV panel show for four years[/caption]
Jordan Rowley has worked on the ITV show for four years and took to Instagram to thank the “wonderful people” we worked with.
He posted a string of photos with Loose Women panellists, including Ruth Langsford.
He wrote in the caption: “And just like that, my final day at ITV Daytime has arrived. In my late twenties, I made the daunting decision to try my hand at an industry I’d always dreamt of working in and was lucky enough to secure the position of a runner on Loose Women.
“Four years later I’ve worked across two of the countries most iconic television programmes and have gone from making teas and coffees to producing my very own shows, something my younger self could only have dreamt of.
“I can’t begin to explain how amazing the last four years have been. I’ve been so lucky to work with some of the most talented people in the industry, both on and off screen and have genuinely made friends for life.
“This next chapter is both terrifying and exciting but one that would never have been a possibility if it wasn’t for ITV and the wonderful people that I’ve worked with there.
“So, in the words of our Queen Adele – I’ll never learn if I never leap… and I’m off to leap x”.
Some of the Loose Women have rushed to comment on the post, including Coleen Nolan, who wrote: “Going to really Miss you! Go now and fly. You deserve it 
”.
Nadia Sawalha said: “We will miss you so much ! Don’t be a stranger ! Drinkie poos soon !
”.
Ruth shared a photo Jordan posted with her on her Instagram stories.
She wrote: “If you love somebody, set them free! Goodbye and good luck to my lovely friend. It’s been an absolute pleasure working with you…… now go fly!!”
NEW HOME
The talk show’s panellists are said to be disappointed by their new home – a third the size of their old one.
The move to London’s Celebro from White City comes as ITV upload the female-fronted show to ITVX before it airs later on terrestrial as part of a daytime shake-up.
It is switching to 30 weeks from 52, losing its 100-strong studio audience and its regular celebrity guests.
A source said of the studio: “Cast and crew are crestfallen. It feels like a broom cupboard. It’s going to be very cramped.
“It feels like the show they’ve fought so long and hard to create is slowly being decimated. It’s heartbreaking.”
The studio audience is going so it is easier to upload the show on ITVX before it airs on terrestrial — as bosses see the hub as a rival to Netflix and Prime Video.
NO LIVE AUDIENCE
Producers have also decided to drop the live studio audience next year as part of a series of cost-cutting changes to its daytime programming.
Ruth and Eamonn’s relationship timeline
Before the shock split announcement, Ruth and Eamonn seemed like one of the strongest couples on UK TV – even with their signature bickering style.
Here’s how their romance played out…
1997 – The couple first meet after being introduced by mutual friends, two years after Eamonn splits from his first wife, Gabrielle, with whom he has three children.
1997-2002 – To be respectful to Gabrielle, the couple kept their relationship out of the limelight. Ruth told Daily Mail: “I thought it spoke volumes about the sort of man he was, the sort of father he was and the integrity he had. It made me love him more, not less.”
2002 – Ruth and Eamonn welcome their son, Jack, to the family.
2005 – Eamonn finalises his divorce with Gabrielle.
2006 – The pair begin to host Friday episodes of This Morning together.
2010 – Eamonn proposes to Ruth while at the Cheltenham Races, after asking Ruth’s mother for her hand.
June 2010 – Eamonn and Ruth marry at Elvetham Hall, Hampshire.
2016 – Eamonn undergoes a double hip replacement in the first of many health battles.
June 2019 – On This Morning, Ruth and Eamonn say the secret to their happy marriage. Eamonn credits “compromise, consideration and lots of conjugal,” while Ruth said it was “laughter and an equal marriage”.
November 2020 – Ruth and Eamonn are replaced on their regular Friday slot by Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary in a ‘show shake-up’.
December 2021 – After a year of being moved to the bank holiday presenting slot, both Eamonn and Ruth left This Morning.
January 2022 – Eamonn debuted on GB News, while Ruth stayed with ITV in her long-standing role on Loose Women.
September 2022 – Eamonn undergoes spinal surgery after years of back issues including a trapped sciatic nerve.
November 2022 – Eamonn falls down the stairs of his Surrey home with Ruth and breaks his shoulder, requiring a new operation.
September 2023 – Eamonn has a spine and neck stretching procedure as part of his year-long recovery.
May 2024 – Ruth and Eamonn announce they have split after 14 years of marriage and a 27-year relationship.
September 2024 – Eamonn was spotted on a luxury holiday in Barcelona with his new girlfriend Katie Alexander. Ruth calls in a ‘fierce’ divorce lawyer.
It follows broader budget reductions across the channel, which also include halving Lorraine’s airtime to 30 minutes and airing it only during school term times.
Producers’ decision to drop the audience is understood to be a cost-saving measure, as it is managed by an external company that provides security and a warm-up act.
However, the change has prompted concern among production staff and presenters, including Ruth Langsford, Kaye Adams, Nadia Sawalha and Charlene White, who rely on audience reactions to shape the tone of the live discussions.
An ITV source tells The Sun: “While there is a proposal to not have a studio audience for Loose Women from 2026, that doesn’t necessarily mean that we’ll never have a studio audience again, it just won’t be in the same way as it is now.
“At this stage we are still exploring new ways of working and producing the show when we move to a new studio next year.”
Ruth wished her pal Jordan Rowley “good luck” on Instagram[/caption]
He thanked the “wonderful” people he worked with over the years[/caption]
Many of his Loose Women colleagues commented on his emotional Instagram post[/caption]