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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Rose Hill

Loose Women stars 'sobbed' after 'monumental' episode featuring first all-black panel

Loose Women panellists broke down in tears and "sobbed" after filming the ITV show's very first all-black panel in its 21-year history.

Charlene White, Judi Love, Brenda Edwards and Kelle Bryan appeared on the programme together for the very first time in October 2020 at the height of the pandemic.

Viewers had hailed the episode as "refreshing and inspiring" at the time, leading them to win a Daytime Programme Award at the RTS Awards.

Speaking to the Mirror on the British Soap Awards red carpet at the weekend, Kelle opened up about how the show had changed since and what it had been like to be part of the "monumental" episode behind the scenes.

"Black Lives Matter has really forced people to look at themselves and the institutions and look at ways that we could improve," she explained. "I am quite forthright in what I say so whatever environment I'm in, if any kind of discrimination is going on, I will say.

Kelle Bryan spoke to the Mirror at the British Soap Awards (WireImage)
She shared her experience of filming the episode (David Fisher/REX/Shutterstock)

"I am that kind of person. I like to give an institution or an organisation a chance to change because I think by having those conversations, that's what's important. Having those open conversations and hoping that people will hear you, listen and take those things on board.

"Winning RTS for the first ever all-black panel of Loose Women was incredible. It just felt like validation because we all sobbed at the end of the show, we were crying our eyes out when they were like, 'Three, two, one and we're off air!'

"We all just cried because it was such a monumental moment for all of us who have been in the industry for such a long time. So to have been able to achieve that, it made the world.'"

She added: "What we're challenging is old-fashioned, out-dated mindsets that need to be challenged."

Kelle also spoke about how the team were continuing to rally round co-star Brenda following her son Jamal's tragic death earlier this year.

The music entrepreneur and SB.TV founder was just 31 years old when he died in February from cardiac arrhythmia after taking recreational drugs.

Brenda has since bravely returned to work and Kelle described her as an "incredible force".

"She's taken on the trust for Jamal and she's really moving that forward," she said. "As well as balancing her own career, as well as managing grief. She's got a lot that she's dealing with at the moment but we're doing the best we can as friends at the moment to support her and be there for her and do nice things together to make sure that she feels loved and supported."

*Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV

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