ITV Loose Women star QUITS life in UK after ‘tough couple of years’ as presenter plots new life in Spain

Presenter Andrea McLean is swapping the UK for Spain after facing a difficult few years.

The former Loose Women star, 55, is making the big life change after a recent near-death experience.

Mother-of-two McLean was a frequent face on ITV until 2020, when she quit her role as a panelist on the chat show after a 13-year stint.

After leaving the show, McLean launched a female empowerment brand, This Girl On Fire, but unfortunately had to dissolve the business earlier this year.

The business blow came just months after McLean endured a near-fatal experience after she was found collapsed at her family home by her husband Nick Feeney.

The presenter was rushed to the hospital with severe sepsis and pneumonia, with doctors informing her that she could have died if she’d been found later.

After the personal and professional difficulties, it is understood that McLean has decided to move on and leave for a new life in Spain with her husband.

She hopes to focus on her writing career after having already published three best-sellers, including This Girl Is On Fire and Confessions of a Good Girl.

A source explained: “It’s been a tough couple of years, and the business never financially recovered.

“Andrea made the decision to dissolve the business officially earlier this year.”

Speaking to The Sun, they continued: “Now she’s planning a new life in Spain with husband Nick. After she nearly died, Andrea’s focused on what really matters – family and friends.

“She’s in a really good place, positive, loved up with Nick still, her kids are all grown up, so she’s happy and making life work for her.”

Recalling the frightening experience, which happened in December last year, McLean told The Mirror: “It was only a few weeks after I got home that I realised the magnitude of what had happened – that if I hadn’t gone into hospital that day, I may not be here now.”

Just weeks ago, the journalist shared on social media how she was feeling apprehensive before returning to screens for the first time since the incident.

“On my way to do my first live television for a long time,” she told her followers.

“I won’t lie, I’m nervous. I’m looking forward to it, because I love doing telly stuff, but because it’s been a while I’m a bit scared.”

She reflected: “I know it’s because I care and I want to do a good job and not look stupid, which is absolutely normal.

“I’m nervouscited. We all feel like this. It’ll be fine once I’m doing it. Deep down I know it will.

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“I also seem to look permanently dishevelled! I have lost quite a lot of hair with Covid and the strong medication after pneumonia and it doesn’t seem to behave like it used to.

“I’m embracing it as there’s not much else I can do. There’s a kind of freedom to that too. I’m liking the rebellion of it.”