Loose Men star reveals secret booze problem that saw him pile on five stone and hide drinks from his wife
LOOSE Men has returned for the first time this year – and one of its panelists has admitted to a secret booze problem.
Jordan Banjo, 32, said he would hide drinks from his wife Naomi and piled on five stone in weight after turning to alcohol in lockdown.
The star has now kicked his habit, but he was not shy when talking about how bad things had got for him.
He even said he “noticed a difference” in both his marriage and the parenting of his young son Cassius while drinking alcohol on a daily basis.
Jordan told his Loose Men co-stars that he did not grow up in a household of drinkers and didn’t booze himself, but said: “When we went into lockdown, I started drinking and it became a daily thing.
“Once it becomes a habit, it’s a hard thing to break.
“This going to sound so stupid. I was 28 in lockdown. This is going to sound dumb, but it was like I was 16 or 17.
“It was like, ‘Hang on a minute. I can just drink this and feel drunk and a bit merry!’
“It became constant, constant, constant until it go to the point where in November 2023, I had to cut drinking cold.”
Jordan was joined on the Loose Women spin-off by Craig Doyle, Danny Jones and Pete Wicks.
Lifting the lid on how bad things had got, he continued: “It got to the point where I was having dinner with my wife and I’d take my plate out to the kitchen and and I was secretly topping up, hoping I didn’t get caught.
“I’m up early for radio and I’d say to my wife, ‘I’ll stay in the spare room so I don’t wake you up’. And I’m in there having drinks.
“I was like, ‘What am I doing?’ I’d get my iPad out and just be sat in bed drinking at half eight at night on my own.”
Jordan said a big wake-up call came when he turned up to choreograph ITV1’s The Real Full Monty with his brother and fellow Diversity star Ashley in late 2023.
Jordan’s Loose Men co-star Pete was taking part in the televised charity fundraiser that year but he struggled to teach him and the other celebrities the dance moves.
He even admitted to having a boozy drink when the cameras weren’t rolling.
“I noticed a difference in my relationship and parenting as I was just vacant,” Jordan continued.
“I speak about it opening now, but a couple of my friends were quite upset.
“Me and Pete filmed The Real Full Monty together and it affected everything.
“I walked in about five stone heavier than I am now and was trying to dance and rehearse. Pete was better than me.
“I was in rough shape and on that filming day was popping out and having a drink.”
Regular Loose Women panellists
Katie Piper – Former Strictly Come Dancing star, activist, model and author
Sunetra Sarker – Also a former Strictly Come Dancing star, and known for acting in Casualty
Kaye Adams – Scottish journalist and one of the original Loose Women
Christine Lampard – ITV presenter
Ruth Langsford – Presented Loose Women on and off since 1999
Jane Moore – Former columnist for The Sun
Coleen Nolan – Became known for her family girl band called The Nolans and went on to compete on Celeb Big Brother
Nadia Sawalha – Former EastEnders star and Celebrity MasterChef winner
Stacey Solomon – Known for her reality show Sort Your Life Out and winning series 10 of I’m a Celeb
Janet Street-Porter – A journalist and president of the Ramblers’ Association
Brenda Edwards – Came fourth on the X Factor and went on to become a pop star and act in hit musicals such as Hairspray
Charlene White – Lead presenter at ITV News London
Kelly Bryan – Former EastEnders star and was in a girl group called Eternal alongside her sisters. Currently part of the cast of Hollyoaks
Frankie Bridge – Participated in Strictly Come Dancing and came third place on I’m A Celeb in 2021
Judi Love – A stand up comedian and radio presenter, who has also made a variety of TV appearances in shows such as Strictly Come Dancing, Celebrity MasterChef, and Taskmaster
Linda Robson – Played iconic character Tracey Stubbs in Birds of a Feather
Denise Welch – A soap queen, she starred in Coronation Street, Waterloo Road and Hollyoaks. Also the mother of Matty Healy, the lead singer of pop rock group the 1975.
Jordan made the confession on Wednesday’s episode of Loose Men on ITV1.
He has appeared on the Loose Women spin-off before, as has the show’s anchor Craig.
However, it was a first time appearance for McFly star Danny and Towie’s Pete.
The pair were snapped up for the panel show following their success on respective shows I’m A Celebrity and Strictly Come Dancing last year.