Andrea McLean has spoken about her decision to leave Loose Women.

The presenter was on the show for 13 years before announcing at the end of 2020 that she would be stepping away to focus on her business.

Speaking on Lorraine today (March 21), she said: "This is my first time being back on TV and back in the room that we share with Loose [Women]. It was a [brave decision] and the reason the whole book came about was because at the time so many people said to me, 'You're so brave to do that thing, to pivot.'

andrea mclean on loose women 
ITV

Related: This Morning and Loose Women suddenly taken off air

"And all I kept thinking was I don't feel brave, I feel really scared but it was just something I really needed to do."

She continued: "I had a breakdown a few years ago, Lorraine, because I was going and going and going and I didn't want to look at really what was happening.

"I was just trying to keep busy and not think. Learn from my mistakes and just stop for a minute."

loose women   andrea mclean december 16
ITV

Speaking back in 2020 about her decision to leave the ITV series, she told her co-hosts of her departure: "I'm going to be leaving Loose Women because I want to be brave.

"All the incredible feedback I had from my book [This Girl Is on Fire: How to Live, Learn and Thrive in a Life You Love] and the support I was able to give them, I want to bring it to life. It was a really, really big decision to jump and see if I fall or if I fly. And I just thought, 'I will never know unless I try'. So, I'm saying goodbye to Loose Women."

loose women presenter andrea mclean
ITV

She clarified that she would be around a little longer and wouldn't be leaving immediately, noting that is was her choice to say goodbye.

"ITV have been amazing, I've been anchoring Loose Women for 13 years now," she said. "I've been part of ITV daytime for 23 years, and actually the team have been so wonderful, [asking] 'Can we help? Would you like less so you can focus on your business?'"

Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV.

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Catherine Earp

News Editor 

Catherine joined Digital Spy as News Editor in 2018, and oversees our team of freelance writers. Prior to that she worked at OK! Online, and has interviewed a slew of celebrities across her career in entertainment news, including Tom Hanks, Cheryl and Noel Fielding. 

Catherine also has specialist knowledge in all things drag, interviewing a huge portion of RuPaul’s Drag Race stars, and getting her own drag makeover for Channel 4’s show Drag SOS

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