Dame Kelly Holmes is joining the Loose Women panel
(Picture: PA Archive)Dame Kelly Holmes has secured a new gig as a full-time panelist on Loose Women.
The former Olympic legend, 52, will make her first appearance on the show as part of the panel on September 12, two months after emotionally coming out as gay in documentary Kelly Holmes: Being Me.
Holmes has said she has found her “authentic voice” finally, after 34 years keeping her sexuality hidden, and can’t wait to express it as she joins Loose Women next week.
Discussing her new TV role, Holmes told The Sun: “I hope I can bring my energy to the show and I will be up for doing any mad experiences that they throw at me.
“It will be so different to anything I have done before in my career, but now I have found my authentic voice since the airing of my documentary, I will join in on many conversations that I felt I never could before.”
Holmes shared that she was inspired to join Loose Women, which she has been a guest on before, after the overwhelming reaction she received from her documentary.
The athlete announced that she “finally feels free” as she came out as gay in June, following years of living a “secret” life when it came to her sexuality.
Holmes was forced to hide being gay when she joined the British Army aged 18 as there was a no LGBTQ+ policy for soldiers, which wasn’t removed until 2000.
The Olympic gold medallist described the public’s reaction to the documentary as “incredible” on BBC’s Morning Live, and said she is now adjusting to her “new normal”.
Holmes said: “it’s been incredible, the warmth, the feedback of people coming forward. It’s kind of strange because I feel like I’m essentially still in a bit of a bubble and a little bit in limbo, you can’t just change.
“I’m still the same person, don’t get me wrong, but with the announcement, to suddenly to live the new norm is very different.”
Holmes continued: “When you do talk, you get a lot of stories back.
“There are so many people who have emailed and messaged who have found strength from my conversation and my stories and announcements - in lots of different ways, all different people of all different ages - and that has been so heartwarming.”
