Celebrity Lisa Maxwell on being a parent and Loose Women comebacks
Following Denise Welch and Carol Mcgiffin’s return to the ITV show, Lisa Maxwell tells Woman about her plans
Lisa maxwell is arguably one of the best-loved Loose Women panellists of all time, having been a regular on the show from 2008 to 2014. and having enjoyed watching her pals and former co-stars Denise welch and Carol mcgiffin return to the panel, the 54-year-old actress tells us why she still hasn’t shut the door on the show for good. Here, Lisa reveals why she’d never say never to a Loose Women return, how she’s supporting her daughter, Beau, as she prepares to go to university, and why she’s terrified about competing in this year’s Celebrity Masterchef…
I watched Denise and Carol on Loose
Women and thought they were brilliant, and have to say I think the show is brilliant. I’m really enjoying it these days. I have had some of the happiest times doing that show and made some lifelong friends. There’s no reason not to go back and it’s a lot of fun, so never say never.
Even though my daughter Beau is 18 and about to go to university, my greatest achievement is being a good parent.
I’m a bit worried about her leaving home because she’s going to a big city and we’ve been in the countryside for a while. She’s got to live her life, but I’m a bit apprehensive because it’s a big lifestyle change, but everyone leaves home at some point. If I feel the need to be nearby with a pair of binoculars I will be. I’m going with her!
Some of the people at her school boarded and I was like, ‘I’ve only got one, I don’t want to let her go!’ I’m excited for her. And, to be honest, most people, you do this whole moving out thing and then the next thing you know they’re back again and you wish they’d stayed away.
I always get recognised in the toilet, where you’re sat on the loo, and people try talking to you through the door. They just want a chat and they forget you’re on the toilet. People start
‘there’s no reason not to go back’
talking about The Bill and go into depth with storylines, ask whether Carol Mcgiffin is nice in real life, and you don’t know whether to finish up and come out or wait until they’re gone.
I signed up to Celebrity Masterchef because I’m 54 and needed to be able
to cook. I’ve never had any confidence, I’ve always really enjoyed food and can recognise good food that’s prepared to the perfect temperature, but never been able to put my money where my mouth is. I’d been asked in the past but because it’s such a serious, foodie show, I didn’t really feel confident to compete. But I thought, I’m going to be a grandmother one day and I want to be able to feed grandchildren and entertain people around the family table and be able to get all the dinners right, and not just one.
I was scared of everything on the show but putting the fear of God into me really engaged my brain and made me
work hard. I just kept thinking this is going to go wrong, but I’ve been cooking a lot more since and that’s something I’m so thankful for. My family think I’ve been taken over by some religious cult, because I’ve gone from not being very comfortable in the kitchen – unless it’s going to the wine cooler – to being a know-it-all about it now, thinking I’m a chef. I’m like, ‘Why don’t you sprinkle a little basil or thyme on that, or add some saffron to that?’ Even if it’s a friend’s kitchen, I’ll say it and my friends are getting annoyed with me!