Live television is notorious for its unpredictability, and on August 8, 2025, ITV’s daytime staple Loose Women proved that point in spectacular fashion. During what was supposed to be a lighthearted segment inspired by a viral TikTok challenge, panellist GK Barry accidentally let slip a swear word, sending the studio into a flurry of laughter, apologies, and—perhaps most importantly—a wave of support from both colleagues and viewers.
The now-infamous moment unfolded as the panel—comprising Jane Moore, Denise Welch, Nadia Sawalha, and GK Barry—took on a trending TikTok challenge. The goal? To hit a drum precisely in sync with Whitney Houston’s iconic note from her rendition of "I Will Always Love You." The challenge, which had recently captured the attention of celebrities Ant and Dec, was meant to be a fun, competitive break in the show’s usual format. GK Barry, brimming with confidence, teased the audience with, “Get ready to see greatness,” before taking her shot at the drum.
But things didn’t go quite as planned. GK struck the drum just a beat too early. In a flash of unscripted honesty, she exclaimed, “S**t!”—her hand flying to her mouth as she realized her live TV blunder. The studio erupted: Denise Welch and Nadia Sawalha burst into laughter, the audience joined in, and the moment instantly became one for the show’s history books. According to the Mirror, Jane Moore, ever the consummate professional, stepped in to smooth things over. “Can we please just apologise for passionate language, I’m terribly sorry,” she said, echoing the sentiments of many a broadcaster caught in the crosshairs of live television mishaps.
Nadia, quick to keep the mood light, chimed in with, “The competitive cortisol is rising,” acknowledging the heightened nerves and excitement of the challenge. Meanwhile, a mortified GK Barry pleaded, “Please don’t fire me,” her embarrassment clear but her good humor intact. Jane Moore, always ready with a quip, remarked, “Who knew that such a simple item could go so catastrophically wrong?” Her words did little to dampen the laughter in the studio, and the audience was clearly enjoying the unscripted drama.
The timing of the incident was, as Jane Moore pointed out, oddly fitting. That day marked the one-year anniversary of GK Barry joining the Loose Women panel, a milestone for the show’s youngest-ever panellist. “We’re going to forgive Grace her little word there, because today is her year anniversary on the show,” Jane said, using GK’s real name, Grace Keeling. Denise Welch, never one to pass up a joke, added, “Her first and her last!”—a comment met with more laughter and a round of applause from the studio audience, as reported by Belfast Live.
GK Barry’s journey to the Loose Women panel has been anything but conventional. Born in 1996—the same year the show first aired—she shot to fame during the Covid lockdowns by posting unfiltered, comedic content on TikTok. Her candidness and humor resonated with millions, leading to her podcast, Saving Grace, in 2022. By 2024, she’d made history on Loose Women, joining the panel at just 24 years old. In an interview with OK! magazine, GK admitted that her biggest worry about joining the show was, ironically, the very thing that happened on her anniversary episode: “It’s been a good learning curve because I’m able to get my opinions across and not swear. That was actually difficult for me. The first few episodes, all I could think of was, ‘Don’t swear, don’t swear, don’t swear.’ It was really distracting. Now I think it’s actually quite a good skill that I’ve learned to be able to speak and you don’t have to throw in some sort of f-bomb.”
Her nerves about live TV were not limited to accidental swearing. In the same interview, GK recounted her fears about debating with seasoned panellist Janet Street-Porter: “I was terrified. I begged them, please wait till I’m in the groove before you put me on the panel with Janet Street-Porter! Then I did my show with her and she was adorable. But I was so scared at the beginning, thinking, this audience doesn’t know me—I’m some young woman off TikTok. But now I love it.”
GK’s rise is emblematic of a new wave of social media personalities transitioning into mainstream television. Her presence on Loose Women has brought a fresh perspective to the show, joining the likes of Olivia Attwood and Frankie Bridge in diversifying the panel’s voices. “Sitting with Kaye [Adams], Denise [Welch]... Loose has me, Olivia, Frankie giving a different perspective. It’s fascinating, they’re all such interesting women. They’ve lived a life, you know?” GK shared, highlighting the generational blend that has become a hallmark of the program.
The incident quickly found its way onto social media, with viewers responding in good humor. One quipped, “Who said daytime TV was boring…” while another joked, “That’s what you get for being cocky GK.” A first-time viewer wrote, “Watching Loose Women for the first ever time and 5 minutes in I see GK Barry swearing on live television—I’m crying.” Far from outrage, the response was overwhelmingly positive, with many fans appreciating the authenticity and relatability of the moment.
Beyond her television work, GK Barry has also been open about her personal life. Last year, she publicly introduced her footballer girlfriend Ella Rutherford, further endearing her to fans who value her openness and honesty. Her story, as she puts it, began almost by accident: “I started this whole thing by accident, I expected nothing—though when I was a kid I did want to be a Pussycat Doll, which didn’t quite work out. Being in the public eye was an amazing accident.”
Loose Women continues to air weekdays at 12:30 pm on ITV1 and ITVX, and if this latest episode is any indication, viewers can expect more unscripted, genuine moments from its eclectic panel. For GK Barry, the anniversary slip-up was less a scandal and more a testament to her authenticity—a reminder that even on live TV, the occasional slip of the tongue can bring a studio, and its audience, together in laughter.
Sometimes, it’s the unplanned moments that make live television so memorable—and for GK Barry, it was a birthday she, and her fans, won’t soon forget.
