Sherrie Hewson has revealed she'll be leaving Loose Women after 14 years on the show.
Sherrie Hewson / Credit: ITV
Speaking today (August 3) on the set of the panel series, Sherrie explained: "I said I wouldn't get upset and I'm not going to 'cause it's joyous. I think Loose Women is one of the most important shows on television, I think everybody relates to it and when I work in Benidorm which, I'm there five months a year, there are thousands of women out there who come up to me every day and say 'thank you' to all the girls. They relate to one of us always and they don't necessarily like all of us, but mostly they do and they all say 'thank you, we've been through what you've been through, the loneliness you've been through, the bad times, sad times, we all watch you and we go, 'oh my God, if they can get through it so can I', and it's been incredible."
The actress also told of how the show and her costars have helped her throughout the years, adding: "I've been here 14 years and when I first came I was not in a good place, my husband had gone and I was not happy. These girls have been amazing, they've got me through everything and it's been wonderful. I just want to say that when I first came I was in a very stressed condition and I lost all my hair and I don't know if you remember, but I wore a wig which was just awful, I mean really horrible, and I got through that.
"Then I was declared bankrupt through no fault of my own, I got through that and all the time these girls were here for me and got me through everything.
"I just want to say that on here, on my seat, I've told everything, I've said everything haven't I Coleen? It's all been out there, we all give everything on this show and that's why I think, everybody out there, ladies who watch at home, thank you, because for your following, for your caring, for your love of me, and of my daughter and my family, it's been absolutely amazing.
"I've told as much as I'm sure you all want to hear. So I'm going to be leaving Loose Women because it's kind of time, I've said everything there is… So I'm leaving this seat so somebody else now can sit on this seat for 14 years and tell all their stories.
"But I'd like ot say as Arnold Schwarzenegger said, 'I'll be back'. Loose Women is in my DNA… It will never leave me."
An emotional Coleen Nolan said after wiping away a tear: "It doesn't matter what panellists come on the show now or in the future, but there will never be another Sherrie."
Andrea McLean also said: "We will really miss you Sherrie. Can I just say, oh you're making me all emotional now, Sherrie you were so brilliant to me when my marriage was ending, you were the one that gave me the strength to leave, so we're really going to miss you."
Sherrie's final show will air on Monday, September 5.
Loose Women, ITV, weekdays at 12.30pm.
Tagged in Loose Women Sherrie Hewson