By Emily Sheridan


The new kid on the block: Carol Vorderman leaves the ITV studios in London with Sherrie Hewson after her first day as a 'Loose Woman'


Carol Vorderman was in the mood to celebrate this afternoon after her first day as a new panellist on Loose Women.

After she anchored the relaunched show on ITV, she and her new colleagues headed straight to a nearby restaurant on London's South Bank for a boozy lunch.

Together with Denise Welch, Lisa Maxwell and Sherrie Hewson, the foursome washed down their food with Bellini cocktails.

All new studio: The new studio sees the women sitting around a huge table, much more spaced out than the previous set


As expected, Vorderman pulled out all the fashion stops and went for a trademark tailored dress in grey, which she teamed with a pair of black patent heels.

Opening the show, the ex-Countdown host, 50, introduced herself as 'the new kid on the block'.

She said: 'It is lovely to be here, may I say. I am so excited I can’t tell you – I was skipping down the street the other day.'

After the summer break, Loose Women has undergone a complete overhaul, with new titles, theme music and studio.

Celebration: After the show, Vorderman headed out for a boozy lunch with fellow panellists Lisa Maxwell, Denise Welch and Hewson


While some of the panellists remain, ex-Coronation Street actress Sally Lindsay will co-anchor alongside Vorderman and Andrea McLean.

As the women celebrated the start of a new series, they shared their summer stories with each other.

Vorderman admitted she had enjoyed spending her first summer as a single woman following her split from long-term love Des Kelly.

She enthused: ' It was my first summer as a singleton for years and years, well decades really, and it was the best summer I’ve had for decades I tell you. I danced, I sang, I laughed, I partied. Parties that were planned, parties that were "Oh, shall we just have a party?" Fantastic! It was really, really brilliant… I am having a blast at the moment.'

Outnumbered: Vorderman is the only brunette amongst the group of blondes

Glad to be here: Vorderman thanked viewers for their encouragement after wrapping her first show


Following the show, Vorderman Tweeted: 'Thank u all for being so kind about my first @loosewomen I'm all overcome. Having Bellinis with the girls now and a good lunch.'

She then uploaded photos of herself drinking tea with former The Bill actress Maxwell and Welch enjoying a brew.

Returning the favour, Welch posted a photo of Vorderman in the green room pretending to smoke several cigarettes at once.

Something softer: After their cocktails, the women then switched to sensible cups of tea

New friend: Vorderman cosies up to Hewson during their lunch date


source:dailymail