Loose Women star reveals she’s landed huge new TV gig – 30 years after girl band fame

THE daytime TV star has fought a battle with a debilitating illness behind the scenes

ITV viewers will be used to seeing Kelle Bryan behind the Loose Women desk but now the singer and actor has announced an exciting new project to her fans.

Kelle has revealed that she will be starring in a new BBC coming of age series early next year called Crongton.

Kelle shot to fame as part of the group Eternal
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Kelle shot to fame as part of the group EternalCredit: Al Pereira

She later moved into acting, drawing critical acclaim for her role in Hollyoaks
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She later moved into acting, drawing critical acclaim for her role in HollyoaksCredit: Channel 4

Kelle has now announced she will be starring in an exciting new BBC project, Crongton
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Kelle has now announced she will be starring in an exciting new BBC project, CrongtonCredit: Instagram
The show is based on the best-selling British novels by Alex Wheatle and is written by the award-winning writer and comedian Archie Maddocks.

Kelle was keen to champion the series that follows a cast of young kids growing up on a fictional council estate as they navigate the trials and tribulations of peer pressure, identity and school life.

The Loose Women star saved a special shout out for her real life ‘baby cousin’ Noah Cox, who plays the character Mckay Tambo.

Posting on her socials Kelle said: “Proud to announce new series #Crongton @bbc series coming to your screens in #2025 . I feature alongside some incredible young talent including my baby cousin #noahcox playing Mckay.”

The series will be a new direction for Kelle who has had a jam packed career since she first shot to fame as part of the British R&B group Eternal in 1992.

Kelle formed the group along with Louise Nurding and sisters Easther and Vernie Bennett and they were soon snapped up by EMI records.

Fans will remember their hits including Power of a Woman, Angel of mine and their first number one – I Wanna be the Only One.

The girls were an international success; they sold almost 10 million records, toured the world and even played in front of the Pope.

When Eternal split many of the members went on to solo careers and Kelle was no exception, signing with Mercury records and releasing her debut single ‘Higher than Heaven’ In 1999.

In more recent years fans will be be more familiar with Kelle’s acting and presenting work and she joined the cast of Channel 4’s Hollyoaks in 2018.

Loose Women’s Kelle Bryan breaks down in tears saying ‘I was physically and mentally abused’
She played the character Martine and had some major storylines until she left the soap in June 2022.

As part of the Hollyoaks cast Kelle received an outpouring of praise for her work in a special episode titled “unconscious bias” looking at the issues of racism and discrimination faced by black women in Britain.

Bosses at ITV’s Lose Women were also fan’s of Kelle and offered her a seat at the iconic daytime table where fan’s have seen her debate with regulars like Janet Street Porter and Coleen Nolan since 2019.

In her personal life, she has raised awareness around the autoimmune disease lupus after being diagnosed back in the 90s.

The condition causes joint pain, skin rashes and tiredness.

There is no cure but it can go into remission.

“[Doctors] said I might never get back to full strength and I could be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life,” Kelle has said.

Luckily, she managed to get well with a combination of rehabilitation, medication and exercise.

 

Kelle’s new project, Crongton, is a return to acting and will see her appear alongside other familiar faces like Munya Chawawa as well as lots of up and coming British talent.

A preview of Crongton is available now on BBC iPlayer and will be able to stream in the new year.

Kelle has also turned to presenting as part of the line-up on ITV's Loose Women
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Kelle has also turned to presenting as part of the line-up on ITV’s Loose Women