‘I'm careful with who I allow in my inner circle

Actress and presenter Kéllé Bryan on managing fame and fronting a new fashion initiative

- MITYA UNDERWOOD

Star of Loose Women Kéllé Bryan has been around the showbiz block more times than most. She was a founding member of girl band Eternal in 1992, alongside Louise Nurding (now Redknapp) and sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett, and has since had acting roles in BBC sitcom Me And Mrs Jones, and Hollyoaks, playing Martine Deveraux for four years. She also joined ITV’s Loose Women five years ago.

In this exclusive and candid chat with new, the London-born mum to Regan, 13, and 11-year-old Kayori Rose tells us about her life as an ordained minister, the truth behind the so-called feuds on Loose Women and how she’s finally learned to love her body…

Hi Kéllé! You’ve been on Loose Women for five years now, were you ready for the spotlight that goes with a job like that?

I was probably more conscious of it being live television and thinking about what I said [in the moment], rather than the consequences of what I said. I just thought it would be, “Oh that’s what she thinks, move on.” But everything is analysed so much, they sort of comb through it quite slowly.

Audiences love to spot a feud…

Ha, yes, people will say, “You looked at her funny,” and I’m like, “No, I was actually looking off at the floor manager at that time!” I’m generally seat four so when I look away from the panel, it’s to my floor manager, not actively looking away from another panellist! I didn’t quite understand that microscopic way of analysing the show. I didn’t realise that when I started, but now I get it!

So you’re still enjoying it?

Yes, and I’m grateful for the platform because there are very few Christian women who come from the perspective that I do on television. I think it’s an important voice to be heard, it brings more diversity to the panel.