Just Because Amber Gill Is Guest Hosting Loose Women Does Not Mean She Has ‘Stolen’ Anything From Amy Hart

Love Island’s Amber Gill has been confirmed as a guest panellist for Loose Women this Wednesday, after her appearance with Greg O’Shea last week proved to be a hit with viewers of the ITV show. And so of course, tabloids are now speculating tension between her and fellow islander Amy Hart whom was previously tipped to be a guest panellist herself shortly after her own appearance on the show, but is yet to be invited back.

‘Love Island tensions as Amber awkwardly 'steals' pal Amy's dream Loose Women job’ reads the Mirror’s headline. ‘Love Island's Amy Hart's Loose Women job 'stolen' by Amber Gill’, writes Birmingham Live with Metro stating that the two are in ‘awkward competition’.

Despite Amber’s reoccurring role on the show yet to be secure – according to The Mirror Amber will have to prove herself during this week’s guest appearance - and Amy’s guest panellist gig still open, many are forcing some sort of conflict between the two women. They’re also using the adjective ‘stolen’ fast and loose in much of the commentary around the news.

But let’s get one thing straight, Amber has not ‘stolen’ anything from Amy. First of all, because there is room for more than one guest panellist on Loose Women, but more than that because you just can’t ‘steal’ a job.

TV roles are earned, not robbed – and to suggest otherwise is to diminish any of the talent both of these women have. Because, in order to be kept on a show like Loose Women after the Love Island buzz dies, both Amy and Amber would need to be entertaining, opinionated and able to deliver engaging commentary on various issues – all of which they have demonstrated appearing on Love Island.

To steal a job is to imply you have unfairly taken something that belonged to another – something that does not apply to this situation in any way. Because, not only do guest panellists switch all the time on Loose Women, but Amy was never confirmed to consistently appear on the show. And to imply that there’s only one spot for a Love Island contestant to regularly guest host Loose Women is ludicrous – let’s be honest, neither Amy or Amber’s schedules are likely to allow for that anyway for the next year.

Of course, it’s a narrative many women know well, to earn your position and have your talent belittled. Typically, it seems to come from entitled men whom assume they’re better placed for the job than you. But even in this particular context, would headlines be the same if male islanders were both up for the same TV show? Likely not. Because, we assume there are enough opportunities for men and continue to tell women they must fight each other for their one seat at the table.

These women are not in competition, and since neither of them have expressed any sentiment to imply so, how about everyone leaves them alone and lets them get on with the endless other TV appearances and hosting jobs they currently have

Read more: The best reactions to Love Island 2019...