Nadia Sawalha, a longtime panellist on the daytime talk show Loose Women, has publicly accused ITV of bullying and discrimination, alleging she was effectively forced out of her role due to her outspoken support for Palestinian rights. Sawalha, who first joined the show in 1999 and returned in 2013, said she has not appeared on the series since April and was removed from the current run in July without clear explanation.

Sawalha has expressed concern that her advocacy has made her a target within the network, stating she fears legal and police actions against her following widespread public scrutiny. She referenced defamatory claims published earlier this year that falsely accused her and her husband, Green Party member Mark Adderley, of supporting terrorism or hatred of Jews. Sawalha won substantial libel damages over those allegations after a legal ruling.

According to Sawalha, her removal coincided with a period of heightened political tension, including the Golders Green stabbings and the arrest of two Green Party members, which she said compounded her distress. She also alleged that ITV reduced her salary by half and deliberately excluded her from an episode featuring former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, citing concerns her political views might lead to contentious on-air discussions.

Sawalha’s legal representatives, including the European Legal Support Centre, have sent a pre-action letter to ITV accusing the broadcaster of discrimination and harassment on the grounds of her protected philosophical beliefs. The letter claimed that she was treated less favorably than other ITV presenters who also faced public complaints; however, it did not specify which individuals were referenced.

Within ITV, Sawalha says she was presented with a 20-page dossier of allegations, which network staff refused to review due to resource constraints. She says she was denied the opportunity to respond, describing the situation as shocking and distressing. While some colleagues have reportedly supported her privately, Sawalha said many are reluctant to speak out publicly for fear of jeopardizing their careers.

The presenter has launched a petition calling for ITV to issue a public apology and reinstate her to Loose Women, which has gathered more than 60,000 signatures. She stated that, despite the personal and professional risks, she feels compelled to speak out, encouraging others to do the same. ITV has declined to comment directly on the specifics of Sawalha’s allegations or the ongoing legal correspondence.