A LOOSE Women legend returned to the show today four years after quitting.
The panel and audience were delighted to welcome the programme’s longest serving anchor back.
Appearing with a trademark beaming smile on her face, Andrea McLean, 54, entered the studio.
Today’s episode was a Surprise Surprise special, paying tribute to the iconic ITV show, hosted by the late Cilla Black, on its 40th anniversary.
And the biggest surprise was saved for last.
Andrea, who spent 13 years in the hot seat, told the audience she will be returning in September for the show’s 25th anniversary celebrations.
She said of her return: “The main feeling I had when I walked in… Last time I was here I had to have my temperature taken, I had a mask, there was no audience, it was such a scary time.
“Because its back to normal now, we forget that moment in time.
“It’s been like a Mexican wave as a I walked in. It’s lovely, it feels like home, it feels so good.”
Fans were thrilled with one writing on X: “Really nice to see you back on LW today! Missed you!!”
Another said: “I liked #AndreaMclean One of the best!”
Andrea left the show in late 2020 to pursue other projects – one of which being the This Girl Is On Fire podcast, with her businessman husband Nick Feeney.
In a recent interview with The Sun, Andrea said she rarely gets a chance to enjoy Loose Women as a viewer.
She said: “I don’t watch Loose Women now because it’s on during the day and I’m always working during the day.
“But in terms of do I miss it, I work for myself now, so I do a lot of stuff working from home and anybody who has left any organisation to strike out on their own, I do miss getting up and getting in and meeting the whole team and seeing everybody and hearing the gossip. I miss that kind of daily interaction with everybody.
“But I don’t miss it in terms of the way people would think I suppose because it was great and I left because I was ready to try something else and went off in a new and exciting direction.”
Earlier in today’s episode Brenda was taught to swim by Olympian Rebecca Adlington and was reduced to tears when her daughter Tanisha made a surprise appearance in the studio.
Judi also became emotional after being surprised with a lovely video message from a close friend, and Nadia Sawalha was delighted to be joined by her girl pals during the feel-good show.
Brenda Edwards brought the show to an end by singing Surprise Surprise as the panellists – Nadia Sawalha, Judi Love and Christine Lampard – got on their feet.
