Nadia Sawalha
Nadia Sawalha (born 18 November 1964) is an English actress, television personality, writer, TV cook and vlogger. She is best known as a long-term regular panellist on the ITV daytime talk show Loose Women, being one of the original panellists from its start in 1999 until 2002, before returning to the show in 2013 after a panellist revamp. She played the role of Gina in the ITV comedy Second Thoughts from 1992 to 1994, and Annie Palmer on the BBC One soap opera EastEnders from 1997 to 1999.
Nadia Sawalha
- Name
- Nadia Sawalha
- Born
- 18 November 1964
- Birthplace
- Wandsworth, London, England
- Occupation
- * Actress
- Education
- Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
- Nationality
- United Kingdom
- Fields
- acting · cooking · cookbook
- Languages
- English
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In this article
Biography
Biography
She has also had minor roles in The Bill, Casualty, Benidorm and 99-1. Sawalha presented a number of television programmes in the early 2000s, whilst taking a break from Loose Women. Sawalha won the 2007 series of Celebrity MasterChef. She has been cooking with her sister Dina on YouTube since January 2023.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Nadia Sawalha • Born — 18 November 1964 • Birthplace — Wandsworth, London, England • Occupation — * Actress • television personality • YouTuber • Father — Nadim Sawalha • Children — 2 • Relatives — * Julia Sawalha (sister) • Nabil Sawalha (uncle) • Years Active — 1982–2026 • Notable Works — EastEnders Loose Women • Education — Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
Early life
Early life
Sawalha was raised and still lives in Croydon, south London. She is the daughter of the Jordanian-born British actor Nadim Sawalha and his English wife Roberta Lane. Nadia is the sister of television actress Julia Sawalha and has appeared on Lily Savage's Blankety Blank with her. In 1997, the three starred together in Dearest Daddy... Darling Daughter at the Young Vic Theatre in south London. However, the family pulled out of the performance after hearing of Nadia's husband's death.
Career
Career
After training at the Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts, Sawalha began her career in theatre. From 1997 to 1999, she starred in EastEnders as businesswoman Annie Palmer. Her other acting television credits include Casualty, Which Way to the War, The Vanishing Man (1996), the BBC Victorian drama Station Jim (2001) and the ITV police drama The Bill. Sawalha has also appeared in the films Clockwise (1986), Slave of Dreams (1995), and the straight-to-video release Caught in the Act (1997). From 1999 to 2002, Sawalha was a regular panellist on the lunchtime chat show Loose Women. She returned in October 2013 and has appeared during most weeks in the last decade. In 2001, Sawalha presented the short-lived ITV quiz programme It's Not the Answer, with Peter Dickinson as the announcer. For the BBC, Sawalha has fronted four series of Passport to the Sun, one series each of Total, TV Mail, Heir Hunters, Perfect Partner and Family Exchange. She was also a co-host on the live documentary City Hospital. She has previously hosted the BBC One show Living in the Sun, about British expats living in Spain, and Wanted Down Under, which shows families who want to make the move Down Under (Australia, occasionally New Zealand) and what it would be like to live and work in those Antipodean nations. She could also be seen on Accidents Can Happen, a daytime BBC One programme produced by Twofour, which follows families as they try to rebuild their homes and their lives following disaster. In 2005, Sawalha presented one series of the BBC One programme Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre which followed learner drivers as they learnt to drive and took their driving tests with varying degrees of success. Sawalha was one of the learner drivers who ended up passing her driving test at the end of the second series. That year, and on the same network, Sawalha also co-presented with Jeremy Milnes for one series of the programme Keeping Up with the Joneses. In the summer of 2006, Sawalha began co-presenting The One Show with Adrian Chiles. However, due to her pregnancy, she did not return to the show in the summer of 2007, and was replaced by Christine Bleakley. After winning Celebrity MasterChef, Sawalha went on to co-present the children's version of the show Junior Masterchef; she was said to be 'delighted' to be given the chance to host the show. From the 2012 series, Sawalha was replaced by Irish cook Donal Skehan. In 2008, Sawalha returned to BBC One to present the daytime programme Wanted Down Under. She presented the 2009 programme Eating in the Sun, produced by her husband Mark Adderley, in which Sawalha is challenged by celebrity chefs to cook in their favourite holiday restaurants. From 15 February until 20 August 2010, Sawalha presented a series of the reality programme Instant Restaurant for BBC Two. In July 2011, Sawalha guest presented the ITV Breakfast programme Lorraine and made a total of 17 appearances on the show as a relief presenter and resident chef. In January 2011, Sawalha starred in the sixth series of ITV's Dancing on Ice with Scottish professional Mark Hanretty, but was voted out in a double elimination in the first week, along with Angela Rippon and her partner Sean Rice. In April 2012, she began co-presenting Saturday Cookbook on ITV Breakfast with chef Mark Sargeant. The same year, Sawalha presented the UKTV Home series Kitchen SOS. From 27 October to 29 December 2013, Sawalha and Kaye Adams co-hosted a series of Sunday Scoop, a cookery show. From 7 January 2015, Sawalha took part in the fifteenth series of Celebrity Big Brother on Channel 5. She lasted 24 days in the house before being evicted. Sawalha presented her own cookery show, Nadia's Family Feasts, on ITV. She took inspiration from busy households around the world as she searched for new ideas for recipes that would fit into hectic schedules. Each week, she was joined by a guest chef with a passion or expertise in that cuisine. The series lasted for one season and was replaced by John and Lisa's Weekend Kitchen. Sawalha now hosts a podcast with her husband. In How to Stay Married (So Far), they talk about the ups and downs of married life.
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — The Sawalha-Adderleys • Birth Name — Nadia Sawalha 18 November 1964 Mark Adderley 20 November 1970 • Occupation — TV presenter, actress (Nadia) Camera man (Mark) • Website — www.doghouse-media.co.uk • Youtube Id — UC67bncV8UU5zqa7yjJFXPFg • Youtube Years Active — 2014–present • Youtube Genre — * Trailer Reviews • Teaser Trailer Reviews • Film Reviews • Coffee Moaning • Cooking • ADHD Diary • Youtube Subscribers — 138 thousand • Youtube Views — 61.6 million • Stats Update — 10 December 2021 Sawalha started a YouTube channel with fellow Loose Women panellist Kaye Adams. They had their own YouTube platform, Instagram account and Facebook page, in which they did weekly vlogs, cooking videos, film and TV programme reviews. They also focused on daily normal family routines as well. This account, however, is now inactive. Sawalha also launched a Sawalha-Adderley YouTube channel. The Sawalha-Adderleys (Originally Nadia Sawalha and Family) on Monday 25 August 2014, featuring Sawalha with her husband Mark Adderley. Also regularly appearing are Adderley's mother Diane Adderley and Sawalha's sister Dina. The channel began as a film and TV show review in which Sawalha, Adderley and occasionally their children would review films coming out in the cinema, or a popular TV show on television. However, by the end of 2014, her family decided to make varied content with the first being Vlogmas where the family do a vlog every day in December. This proved to be a hit with their followers. From 2015 onwards, the channel has been releasing at least two videos daily, but their children no longer appear in their content. In December 2016, the channel launched a subscription service. It had a monthly cost of £1.99 and included their weekly The No-Named Sunday show which features different segments from memes, cooking, newspapers, book reviews, Teddy Talks, and an occasional livestream for members only. In February 2019, the channel reached 50,000 subscribers. On 4 May 2020, the channel reached 100,000 subscribers and received a "silver play button".
Personal life
Personal life
On Christmas Day 1997, Sawalha's first husband, Justin Mildwater, ended his life by suicide. They had been married for five years, but had split up a few months before. On 6 June 2002, she married her second husband, Mark Adderley. The following year, he was caught on the M4 near Chippenham at more than two times over the drink-drive limit. Adderley has been sober following a period of rehabilitation. Both Sawalha and Adderley have discussed his path to sobriety on their YouTube channel. The couple live in Upper Norwood, south London, and have two daughters. Sawalha has suffered from psoriasis, and has used homeopathy rather than conventional treatment. In 2019, Sawalha revealed on Loose Women that she suffers from tinnitus. On 31 May 2017, Sawalha spoke in an emotional video online about losing her hair at the age of 52. Sawalha said that her curls were fake and she was going through the perimenopause, the start of the menopause. She said that a doctor told her in September 2016 she had the balding gene. On 25 November 2022, Sawalha announced on Loose Women that she had been diagnosed with ADHD at the age of 58. Sawalha is an atheist. In the wake of the Gaza war, Sawalha has been a vocal advocate for Palestine, and a critic of Israel. In July 2026, Sawalha and Adderley received an apology, substantial libel damages and legal costs from the Daily Mail and Metro publisher over false allegations that suggested the couple showed "support for terrorism or hatred of Jews". The following month, she threatened legal action against ITV, claiming that they had dropped her from Loose Women for speaking out in favour of Palestinian rights. A group of Jewish entertainment industry executives had sent a dossier to the network, urging them not to bring Sawalha back; they cited "repeated examples of conspiratorial rhetoric, inflammatory commentary, disinformation, and antisemitic discourse". She stated that she has not been given a chance to see the document and respond to the claims, but has denied antisemitism. The European Legal Support Center, which advocates for pro-Palestinian cases, has written to ITV on her behalf; they allege discrimination owing to her "anti-Zionist beliefs, which are protected under the Equality Act 2010".
Filmography
Filmography
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1986 — Clockwise — Mandy Kostakis — Supporting role • 1989–1992 — Oxo adverts — Son's Girlfriend — 3 adverts • 1992 — Bottom — Receptionist (Uncredited) — 1 Episode (Deleted scene) • 1992–1994 — Second Thoughts — Gina — Recurring role (4 episodes) • 1993 — True Crimes — Lucy — 1 Episode • 1994 — Which Way to the War — Lucia — Supporting Role • The Bill — Barbara — 1 Episode ("Indecent Exposure") • 1995 — Solomon & Sheba — 1st Prostitute — Minor role • 99-1 — Arabella — Recurring role (2 episodes) • Slave of Dreams — Ankh — Supporting role • 1996 — Casualty — Dr. Robyn McCormack — 1 episode ("Another Day in Paradise") • Bottom Fluff — Herself — Interviewee • Viz Top Tips — Airport Assistant — Supporting role • 1997 — The Vanishing Man — Catherine — TV movie • Caught in the Act — Amanda — TV movie • 1997–1999 — EastEnders — Annie Palmer — Series regular (168 episodes) • 1999–2002, 2013–2026 — Loose Women — Herself — Regular panellist, Guest Anchor • 2000 — Soap Fever — Presenter • 2001 — Station Jim — Rosa — Supporting role • It's Not the Answer — Herself — Presenter • 2001–2002 — Passport to the Sun — Presenter • 2002–2006 — City Hospital — Recurring presenter • 2003 — Celebrity Driving School — Presenter • 2004–2006 — Accidents Can Happen — Presenter • 2005 — Mirror, Signal, Manoeuvre — Presenter • Keeping up with the Joneses — Presenter • 2006–2007 — The One Show — Presenter (17 episodes) • 2007 — Celebrity MasterChef — Contestant (Winner) • Heir Hunters — Presenter (15 Episodes) • 2007–2009 — Wanted Down Under — Presenter (5 episodes) • 2010–2012 — Junior MasterChef — Presenter/Judge (7 episodes) • 2010–2013 — The Wright Stuff — Panellist (10 episodes) • 2011 — Dancing on Ice — Contestant (1 episode) • 2011–2012 — Daybreak — Relief presenter (53 episodes) • 2011–2018 — Lorraine — Relief presenter/chef (17 episodes) • 2012 — Kitchen SOS — Presenter • Saturday Cookbook — Presenter • 2013 — Sunday Scoop — Presenter • 2014 — The Masseuse — Spa Receptionist — Main role • 2015 — Benidorm — Melanie — Recurring role (2 episodes) • Celebrity Big Brother — Herself — Celebrity Housemate • 2017 — Celebrity Juice — Panellist (1 Episode) • 2019 — Nadia's Family Feasts — Presenter • Peaky Bleeders — Period Gang Leader — Main role • 2021 — The Celebrity Circle — Herself — Contestant (3 episodes) • 2022 — London Live News — Herself — Presenter (1 episode)
Video games
Video games
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1996 — Privateer 2: The Darkening — Temessa Ames — Main role (voiceover)
Theatre credits
Theatre credits
• Year — Title — Role — Notes • 1997 — Dearest Daddy...Darling — Daughter — Young Vic Theatre • 1999–2000 — Aladdin — The Princess — Ashcroft Theatre, Croydon
Text attribution
Licensing
Text attribution
Part of the biographical narrative on this page reuses licensed material. Its origin, revision and licence are recorded here.
The biographical narrative on this page is based on the Wikipedia article Nadia Sawalha, revision 1374110530 (EN edition), by its contributors. VALÉORINE has edited that text and built its own documentary record around it. The reused material is available under CC BY-SA 4.0, and this page's reuse of it is offered under the same licence. Everything else on this page — the chronology, the holdings, the evidence, the plates and the connections — is VALÉORINE's own record. Sources and licences.
Notes from the source article
Cited by Wikipedia
Notes from the source article
These works are cited by the source article, in its own numbering. They are recorded as its citations, not as sources VALÉORINE has verified.
- 1.CURLY COOKS of CROYDON - Episode 1!! (Let the chaos commence!). YouTube. 7 January 2023.
- 2.Nadia Sawalha became a homeowner 20 years ago — and bought next door to her parents. Metro Newspaper UK. 2017-04-04.
- 3.Lily Savage's Blankety Blank. ITV. 4 March 2001.
- 4.NADIA TOLD: TAKE AS LONG AS YOU NEED; EastEnders star mourns suicide ex. Free Online Library.
- 5.Where the past and original presenters of Loose Women are now. MyLondon. 10 March 2022.
- 6.Skehan is Junior MasterChef UK judge. RTÉ.ie. 4 October 2012.
- 7.BBC One. Eating in the Sun.
- 8.BBC Two. BBC Two Instant Restaurant.
- 9.ITV. Sunday presenters: Nadia Sawalha.
- 10.Celebrity Big Brother. Nadia Sawalha.
- 11.John Torode and Lisa Faulkner share exciting news. Good Housekeeping. 15 March 2019.
- 12.The Sawalha-Adderleys - Family, Food, Films & Fun - YouTube. YouTube.
- 13.The Sawalha-Adderleys - Family, Food, Films & Fun. Welcome to our Membership Area!! Join and Become a FAMILY GUEST!!. 24 January 2020.
- 14.The Sawalha-Adderleys - Family, Food, Films & Fun. Weekend Vlog #8 - Nadia TALKS About DRINKING Again, Hitting 50000 SUBS & Mark Simply Won't SHUT UP. 23 February 2019.
- 15.Free Online Library. TV Nadia in tears as she tells of hubby's suicide. thefreelibrary.com.
- 16.Free Online Library. How could you do this, Nadia; Suicide husband's sister hits out at EastEnder Annie for her 'callous' affair with star. thefreelibrary.com.
- 17.Free Online Library. Priest in 'stop the suicides' plea over EastEnder Nadia's husband. thefreelibrary.com.
- 18.Free Online Library. Hanged on Christmas Day; Heartbroken dad says: My son Justin died a lonely man. thefreelibrary.com.
- 19.Free Online Library. 'I feel suicidal .I'm losing the wife I adore' Tragic Last Words of Eastender Nadia's Husband Before He Was Found Hanged. thefreelibrary.com.
- 20.Soap star's husband in drink drive shame. Gazette & Herald. 18 April 2003.
- 21.Soap star's husband in drink drive shame. The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald. 2003-04-18.
- 22.Nadia Sawalha On Homeschooling: Say To Your Kids, “I'm Not A Teacher And I Don't Know The Answer To This Either – Let's Find Out”. Grazia. 2025-01-15.
- 23.Dana Ullman, The Homeopathic Revolution: Why Famous People and Cultural Heroes Choose Homeopathy, page 147 (California: North Atlantic Books, 2007).
- 24.Loose Women's Nadia on losing her hair. BBC News. 31 May 2017.
- 25.Topping, Alexandra. Nadia Sawalha reveals she has been diagnosed with ADHD in late 50s. The Guardian. 24 November 2022.
- 26.Loose Women. Should The Niqab Be Allowed In Court? - Loose Women. 17 April 2015.
- 27.Delaney, Zoe. 'I don't fear TV blacklist, I need to speak out for my dad,' says Nadia Sawalha. The Mirror. 2024-10-18.
- 28.Brooker, Alice. Daily Mail and Metro to pay 'substantial' libel damages to Loose Women panellist and husband. Press Gazette. 15 July 2026.
- 29.McIntosh, Steven. Nadia Sawalha threatens legal action against ITV over Loose Women removal. BBC News. 2026-08-06.
Bibliography printed in the source article · 8
- Stuffed Vine Leaves Saved My Life (2010) Doubleday, London.
- Greedy Girl's Diet (2013) Kyle, London.
- Greedy Girl's Diet: Second Helpings! (2013) Kyle Books, London.
- Fabulous Family Food (2014) Macmillan, London.
- Little Black Dress Diet (2016) Kyle Books, London.
- Nadia and Kaye: Disaster Chef (2018) – with Kaye Adams. Dorling Kindersley Limited, London.
- Parent Alert!: How to Keep Your Kids Safe Online (2018) – with Kaye Adams and Will Geddes. Dorling Kindersley Limited, London.
- Honey, I Homeschooled the Kids (2021) – with Mark Adderley. Coronet, London.
References
Citations
References
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The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 05 September 2026.
Elsewhere in Film memorabilia
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