Nadia Sawalha sues ITV over alleged discrimination

Longtime television presenter Nadia Sawalha has initiated legal proceedings against ITV, alleging she was repeatedly removed from the panel show "Loose Women" because of her public support for Palestinian rights. The legal action, announced on Thursday, August 6, 2026, centers on claims of discrimination and harassment related to her protected philosophical beliefs.

Sawalha, a panellist on the show since its 1999 launch with a break between 2002 and 2013, stated in a video posted to Instagram that she became the target of an escalating campaign of complaints and hostile media coverage after she began speaking publicly in support of Palestine in December 2023. She alleges that despite never discussing the issue directly on the programme, ITV executives removed her from broadcasts multiple times, telling her, "It's all a bit noisy out there for us."

The European Legal Support Centre (ELSC), representing Sawalha, has sent a pre-action letter to ITV alleging direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, and harassment. The letter argues that her anti-Zionist beliefs constitute a protected philosophical belief under the Equality Act 2010. The legal team is seeking an apology,...