‘ It was my time to quit Loose Women'

Saira Khan exclusively reveals she’s leaving the daytime show, says she’d like a gay woman to take her seat, and admits she feels more confident at 50 than ever before

- CHLOE ALEXANDROU & GEMMA MCCARTNEY

She was pipped to the post on the first series of The Apprentice in 2005, but since then Saira Khan has been smashing it with her TV career and happy home life. And despite being a popular panellist on Loose Women, in our exclusive chat she reveals she’s leaving the show after five years and hopes her seat will be taken by a woman who “needs it more”.

“There’s no animosity, it’s just the decision I’ve come to. My contract is up and it’s a clean break,” she reveals.

Having turned 50 last year, Saira, who has been married to advertising agency owner Steve Hyde for 16 years, embarked on a fitness journey that saw her shed weight, but more importantly helped her get her mental health and wellbeing back on track. And as a mother to Zacariah, 12, and Amara, nine, Saira knows both the joys and the challenges that come with being a parent.

In our exclusive shoot and interview, Saira opens up about her reasons for leaving Loose Women, reveals why she’s feeling fab at 50, and educates us on the importance of making time for ourselves…

Saira, we’re sorry to hear that you’re leaving Loose Women. How did you come to this decision?

I joined Loose Women to make that panel representative. I felt like me joining that panel was a powerful representation and a move towards representing modern, British society. For me, in the past five years, I’ve shared and spoken about all aspects of my life. I came to that show with a lot of baggage and that show gave me a platform to share. I feel so grateful Loose Women gave me a space to heal and come to terms with some of my life experiences.

You’ve always been upfront and open…