Cassidy to join 'Loose Women'

Natalie Cassidy is to join the 'Loose Women' panel.

The former 'EastEnders' star - who was recently seen on 'Celebrity Big Brother' - will make her debut for the ITV1 lunchtime show on Friday and said that she can't wait to get to work.

The mother-of-one, who recently rekindled her romance with her ex-fiancé Adam Cottrell, said: "Ever since 'Celebrity Big Brother' people have been tweeting that they'd love to see me as a Loose Woman and now it's happening. I can be very opinionated."

Bosses of the show are also looking for women to sit on the panel after regulars Jane McDonald and Janet Street-Porter were diagnosed with shingles and could be off for a month.

Also, Denise Welch has hinted she could quit the show to focus on her acting after taking on a part in the stage version of 'Steel Magnolias'.

She said: "I feel like I keep trying to juggle everything and I'm dropping things now and then. It's been really tough."

Other panellists include Carol Vorderman, Carol McGiffin, Lisa Maxwell and Sally Lindsay.