Loose Women host Charlene White was forced to intervene after co-star Janet Street-Porter made a ‘offensive’ comment about bin men on the ITV show.TVKelly Smith Screen Time Reporter and Nicola Croal TV and showbiz reporter
21:53, 16 Apr 2025
The mood on Loose Women swiftly changed from cheerful banter to an awkward scene during Wednesday’s episode when host Charlene White had to deliver a stern telling off to panellist Janet Street Porter after the 78-year-old made an untoward comment.
Fellow panellists Denise Welch and Mariella Frostrup were in the midst of light-heartedly experimenting with artificial intelligence to imagine what their pet dogs may look like as humans when Charlene found herself in the middle of a tense turn of events on the ITV show.
The situation escalated on Loose Women when the team decided to use Janet’s beloved pooch, Badger, as the subject to see his human equivalent after the broadcaster’s playful imitation of her dog earlier on the show had incited bursts of laughter from everyone in the studio, Belfast Live reports.
Janet said that the AI image “looked like a bin man”(Image: ITV)
During the amusing moment, Charlene interjected with a witty remark: “Shall we see whether you were embarrassing yourself on National Television,” triggering the big reveal of the AI-generated portrait, while Denise shouted with enthusiasm: “We love it”.
Charlene then introduced the anticipated moment by saying, “Will you please welcome Badger,” and Denise chimed in with “Ohhh Janet, so attractive.”
Upon revealing the image, the screen showed Janet’s terrier hilariously turned into a dashing figure complete with luscious long hair and a dark beard, prompting astonished reactions to the striking AI transformation.
However, Janet was clearly unimpressed with Badger’s human transformation and she did hold back on her disapproval.
She exclaimed: “No, no, no,” clearly showing her disagreement with the outcome.
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Explaining her disapproval, Janet emphatically stated: “My Badger, well he’s my partner’s Badger and he’s going to get the hump after this. He bought Badger and we share him. That person, that dog person looks like a bin man.”
Charlene quickly interrupted: “Janet,” evidently shocked by Janet’s comment.
Nonetheless, the TV personality carried on: “My Badger is gorgeous. My Badger’s got lovely eyes, he’s got eyebrows”.
Reacting to Janet’s surprising remark, Denise looked at the host and asked: “I think he looks nice, do you?”
Janet’s terrier dog Badger as a human(Image: ITV)
Charlene seemed more intent on giving Janet a firm telling off for her unflattering comment than discussing the AI image at hand.
The host firmly reprimanded Janet: “Also, we don’t talk about our bin men like that Janet.”
She continued with another word of advice: “We definitely don’t do that.”
Realising she may have caused offence with her words, Janet was quick to apologise.
She said: “Oh alright, I’ll take that back and I’ll apologise to all refuse collectors everywhere, I am very very sorry, I am truly sorry.”
As Janet spoke, Charlene interjected assertively: “I tell you what I am going to do, move on from Badger,” effectively ending the awkward moment.