Alan Carr manufacturers Free Girls 'determined' in savage swipe after his pal Denise Welch's exit from ITV demonstrate

Alan Carr has taken a savage swipe at Loose Women, branding them ‘desperate’ over their repeated pleas for votes for the upcoming National Television Awards (NTAs).

The ITV talk show is up for Best Daytime Show at this year’s ceremony, going up against Good Morning Britain, This Morning, James Martin’s Saturday Morning and  Scam Interceptors in the category.

And in the wake of his pal Denise Welch’s exit from the show, Alan gave his opinion on Loose Women’s campaign to drum up support from fans, taking a cheeky swipe as he discussed them ‘physically forcing’ the audience to vote.

Speaking to comedian Lee Peart on their Bottoms Up podcast in a clip shared to TikTok this week, Alan said: ‘Remember when Loose Women are nominated for an NTA, every day, every ad break, I mean, a bit desperate.

‘I’m just saying, we all love Loose Women, but a bit desperate.’

Agreeing, Lee, who previously worked as a warm-up act on the programme, told how he was tasked with getting the audience to vote ahead of filming. 

The ITV talk show is up for Best Daytime Show at this year’s ceremony, going up against Good Morning Britain, This Morning, James Martin’s Saturday Morning and Scam Interceptors in the category [Anchor Kaye Adams pictured]

He said: ‘I agree. You know, when I was their warm-up, they asked me to go out before the show to get people to vote.’

To which Alan, whose own show Changing Ends is also up for an NTA, queried: ‘Physically forced them to vote?’

Lee then replied: ‘On the phones. I said, this is not my job, I won’t do it.’

Alan insisted that he still has love for the show, however, his remarks about their ‘desperation’ still left TikTok fans tickled. 

Alan’s words come shortly after his pal Denise quit Loose Women after 26 years.

Last week Denise, 68, shocked fans when she announced that she had decided to step down from Loose Women to focus on her acting work, having been offered a string of roles in recent months.

Denise first appeared on the ITV Daytime show in 2000, before becoming one of its most recognisable faces. Her last appearance was June 29.

In a video on Instagram, Denise shared she had decided to step down so she could focus on the ‘wonderful opportunities’ she’d been given.

Alan gave his opinion on Loose Women’s campaign to drum up support from fans, taking a cheeky swipe as he discussed them ‘physically forcing’ the audience to vote

Alan said: ‘Remember when Loose Women are nominated for an NTA, every day, every ad break, I mean, a bit desperate’

Alan’s words comes shortly after his pal Denise quit Loose Women after 26 years to focus on her acting work (pictured on Loose Women in 2026)

Paying tribute to her fellow panellists, Denise said she would remain friends with ‘all’ of her co-stars, and insisted that despite claims of behind-the-scenes tensions, they were a ‘happy band of campers’. 

Denise recently starred in the Channel 4 drama Tip Toe, and is also set to star in an adaptation of Graham Norton’s novel Forever Home. 

Sharing news of her departure, Denise said: ‘I’m leaving Loose Women.

‘After best part of 25 years, off and on, I did leave for about seven years and went back in 2018. This show has been a part of me and my family’s life for nearly a quarter of a century. 

‘I have the most wonderful, wonderful memories and it’s just that acting has always been my first love and I think the thing I’m best at, and at the moment I’m having the most wonderful opportunities coming my way.

‘I’m grabbing them by the you know whats and running with it for this new chapter of my life.

‘So I just wanted to say that in person to thank all of the people who have shared my stories with me, I’ve shared my life with you, the good, the bad and the ugly.

‘I’m very Marmite, but I cherish all the comments good or bad that I’ve had over the years and I just hope you wish me well for this new and exciting chapter in my life.

‘I’ll miss everybody but I will remain friends with the whole gang because… we are a happy band of campers. Anyway lots of love, thanks for sticking with me.’

A spokesman for Loose Women said: ‘Denise has been such a brilliant part of the Loose Women family and we are going to miss her hugely on the show. 

‘We are sending her all of our love and best wishes for her next chapter.’