Loose Women will air on Christmas Day for the first time in its 26-year history, despite facing severe financial constraints.
The festive special marks an unprecedented moment for the daytime panel show, which will feature celebrity guests and seasonal entertainment as part of ITV’s Christmas morning schedule on December 25.
It comes as the programme confronts significant budget reductions announced earlier this year, which will see its yearly output cut from 52 weeks to 30 weeks.
The Christmas Day episode will include “sparkling surprises, celebrity guests, and some true Loose style festive fun”, according to ITV’s announcement.
The special will air on ITV1 and ITVX, joining the broadcaster’s established Christmas morning lineup for the first time since the programme began.
The programme will complete ITV’s Christmas morning offerings, following appearances from Good Morning Britain, Lorraine’s holiday special, and This Morning’s festive edition.
Viewers can expect the panel to deliver their signature blend of entertainment with special guests joining the presenters for the landmark broadcast.
The announcement represents a significant milestone for the show, which has never previously aired on Christmas Day throughout its broadcasting history.
Loose Women cast
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PAITV confirmed the special episode will round off their morning schedule with celebrity appearances and seasonal surprises tailored to the holiday audience.
The festive programming extends beyond Christmas Day, with ITV Daytime’s seasonal schedule featuring various special editions including Sara Davies’ Christmas Craft Off and James Martin’s Christmas Day.
Additional holiday programming includes John and Lisa’s Christmas Kitchen, Ainsley’s Festive Flavours, and New Year editions of several shows.
Christmas morning television will begin with Good Morning Britain, followed by Lorraine Kelly presenting her holiday sofa special.
Cat Deeley, Ben Shephard, Alison Hammond and Dermot O’Leary will then host This Morning, bringing festive surprises, celebrity guests and emergency Christmas dinner advice to viewers.
The morning schedule concludes with the historic Loose Women broadcast, marking the programme’s inaugural Christmas Day appearance.
James Martin will subsequently present James Martin’s Christmas Day, preparing seasonal dishes alongside Gloria Hunniford, Jodie Kidd and Michelin-starred chef Clare Smyth.
The comprehensive festive lineup represents ITV Daytime’s expanded holiday programming, with additional seasonal content including Love Your Christmas with Alan Titchmarsh and James Martin’s Saturday Morning at Christmas.
Mel Giedroyc will narrate A Warwick Christmas Castle, showcasing the historic castle’s transformation into a winter attraction, whilst John Torode and Lisa Faulkner offer culinary inspiration in John and Lisa’s Christmas Kitchen.
The programme faces substantial financial constraints following ITV’s announcement earlier this year of widespread budget reductions affecting multiple daytime shows.
The broadcaster confirmed it would eliminate over 220 positions whilst implementing significant cuts to programming schedules across its daytime lineup.
Under the new arrangements, the panel show will broadcast for only 30 weeks annually, a dramatic reduction from its previous 52-week schedule.
Loose Women will face budget cuts which will see it off air for half the year
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ITVLorraine Kelly’s programme faces identical cuts, reducing to 30 weeks whilst also shortening from 60 minutes to 30 minutes per episode.
ITV stated the changes would generate efficiencies to be “reinvested in other genres” including dramas and sports coverage for events like the upcoming football World Cup.
The broadcaster emphasised despite reduced schedules, audiences would “continue to see all of the live, topical Daytime shows they know and love”.
All affected programmes will relocate to a new central London facility as part of the restructuring. The restructuring forms part of ITV’s broader strategy to fund investment in other programming areas, with the broadcaster citing productions like Mr Bates vs The Post Office as beneficiaries of the reallocated resources.
The company also highlighted plans to strengthen coverage of major sporting events and maintain investment in reality and entertainment programmes.
ITV’s festive schedule extends into 2026 with special New Year programming, including James Martin’s New Year’s Morning and Love Your New Year’s Day with Alan Titchmarsh.
Joe Wicks will present Joe Wicks’ New Year’s Day, featuring guests including Olly Murs, Tilly Ramsey and Nisha Katona, offering viewers guidance for starting their “healthiest and happiest year yet.”
The seasonal programming also encompasses Fletchers Family Farm At Christmas, showcasing an Austrian working farm during the festive period, and Fletcher’s Country Workshop, following Liz Fletcher and her children creating decorations for a family celebration.