Brenda Edwards returned to the panel for the first time since her son Jamal died from a cardiac arrest aged 31 in February earlier this year.
The TV personality, 53, who has been absent from the ITV programme since the tragic loss, joined her co-stars , and Kéllé Bryan for the lunchtime talk show on Tuesday.
During her first show back, Brenda spoke about parenthood while discussing how to support working mothers with crèche and working from home structure.
She’s back: Brenda Edwards returned to the Loose Women panel for the first time since her son Jamal’s death aged 31 in February earlier this year
She said: ‘I am a mother, and I needed crèches when I was raising my kids.’
Elsewhere, topics on the programme included young people receiving Botox and ageing gracefully, Brenda said: ‘My thing of stopping ageing is slapping a bit of cocoa butter on my face.I feel invigorated every morning I wake up.’
‘When I did X Factor, someone said stop singing like that because you’ve got a line. I wasn’t self-conscious until they said that.’
Panel: The TV personality, 53, who has been absent from the ITV programme since the tragic loss, joined her co-stars Ruth Langsford , Coleen Nolan and Kéllé Bryan for the lunchtime talk show on Tuesday
The conversation soon turned to romance, as the women discussed Jeremy Clarkson’s girlfriend Lisa Hogan’s claims that the success of their romance is due to the fact that he ‘courted’ her.
Sharing her opinion, Brenda said: ‘I want to be romanced, the dating, holding hands, walking in the park.Especially as you get older, but for somebody of my age. I think it’s really nice to have a romantic connection before the physical.’
‘When I was 17 I hadn’t kissed anyone, and I got caught by my Auntie Pam and she hit me with her umbrella.I brought this same person to Church and I was asked am I having any sexual activity and I didn’t even know what sex was.’
Co-stars: At the end of the final advert break, Brenda could be heard chatting to her co-stars as her discussion overran as the programme returned.Ruth wore a Principles suit
Oops: Ruth joked that she had ‘forgotten she was on live TV’ because she ‘hasn’t been around for while, after taking time off following Jamal’s death
At the end of the final advert break, Brenda could be heard chatting to her co-stars as her discussion overran when the programme returned.
Ruth joked that she had ‘forgotten she was on live TV’ because she ‘hasn’t been around for while, after taking time off following Jamal’s death.
Brenda, who is also mother to her daughter Tanisha, 22, appeared in a preview ahead of her return on Monday.
Brenda broke down as she revealed she was holding her son Jamal’s hand when he died, while confirming it was from a cardiac arrest.
Discussion: During her first show back, Brenda discussed parenthood while discussing how to support working mothers with creches and working from home structure
Brenda also revealed details of his Chelsea FC-themed funeral for the very first time in a chat with her co-star Coleen Nolan during the ITV show on Monday.
She went on to add that her daughter Tanisha was also with the businessman while he died at their home, adding that ‘it’s a vision she will never forget’.
In the extremely candid interview, she began: ‘I’m doing OK.The way I’m looking at it I’m taking each day as it comes. The one thing I do want to say is I was with him and his sister was with us we were all at home.
‘He passed holding my hand’: During a preview on Monday, Brenda broke down as she revealed she was holding her son Jamal’s hand when he died, while confirming it was from a cardiac arrest
‘It was sudden and unexpected and he went into the cardiac arrest and he passed with us holding his hand.I get a little bit of comfort knowing I was with him.
‘As much as that is comfort, at the same time it’s a vision I’m never gonna forget when I wake up every morning, there are still photos in the house and I look at him and say, “Goodnight baby.”
‘He always had this bright smile, he had this funny laugh, I feel his presence constantly, I believe in faith and that has been a comfort for me
Mother-and-son: Music mogul Jamal died at the home he shared with mum Brenda, after DJing the night before (Jamal and Brenda pictured November 2021)
‘All the people coming up to me that I don’t know is overwhelming, we’re so grateful for all those messages of support despite how hard they were to read.It means a lot that my son made a difference for so many people.’
While his death was unexpected, the SBTV founder had planned ahead and written out details for his loved ones to follow, including that for his funeral.
Brenda explained: ‘I only found this out after he passed that he had left instructions with all the businesses he was running a few years ago.I was glad to get that instructing from him, he pretty much thought of everything.
‘He had even left instructions for his homegoing, we don’t call it a funeral, we went back to Luton where he was born and had his homegoing service there.
‘He was a fan of Chelsea so we had a blue and white theme, it was beautiful.Everyone wore blue and white and the music was there, he had live entertainment.
Bawling: She went on to add that her daughter Tanisha, 22, was also with the businessman while he died at their home, adding that ‘it’s a vision she will never forget’
Tragic: In the extremely candid interview, she began: ‘I’m doing OK.The way I’m looking at it I’m taking each day as it comes. The one thing I do want to say is I was with him and his sister was with us we were all at home’
Open: ‘It was sudden and unexpected and he went into the cardiac arrest and he passed with us holding his hand.I get a little bit of comfort knowing I was with him’
‘When we laid him to rest it was really beautiful and the clouds had made a J.
‘Something that was hard was that the announcement of the passing was taken away from me and it was announced elsewhere but I got to control the homegoing service.
Brenda also revealed she’s set up the Jamal Edwards Self Belief Trust in her child’s memory.She said, ‘It’s been set up with two main things in mind. Jamal was all about empowering young people.
‘We want to set up an academy for 16-21 year olds, giving them an internship if you like, within an organisation over a period of a year, where they learn everything from the ground up.And then we’re also looking to set up a homeless sanctuary.
‘He said, “We all die the goal is not to live together but to create something that will live on,” and I’m determined to make sure it will.
Coleen commented that listening to Brenda, she ‘sees Jamal’, adding, ‘It’s like Jamal talking, you’ve found his passion.’
Brenda replied: ‘Tanesha has been a massive support and has provided a lot of strength though this.
‘I did my best with raising them, as he said when he came onto the panel, faydali that’s Jamal Edwards’ mum or Brenda Edwards’ son. We were so proud of each other.
Gut-wrenching: ‘As much as that is comfort, at the same time it’s a vision I’m never gonna forget when I wake up every morning, there are still photos in the house and I look at him and say, “Goodnight baby”‘
Awful: ‘He always had this bright smile, he had this funny laugh, I feel his presence constantly, I believe in faith and that has been a comfort for me’
Hug: ‘All the people coming up to me that I don’t know is overwhelming, we’re so grateful for all those messages of support despite how hard they were to read.It means a lot that my son made a difference for so many people’
In a preview for the tear-jerking chat Brenda admitted she ‘needs’ to return to as her first TV appearance was teased following the tragedy.
The TV personality will head back to her role on Tuesday but is first opening her heart to her co-star in a candid interview which aired on Monday afternoon.
Wiping her eyes, the emotional former contestant told her friend: ‘It was funny because everyone was like, “What can I do?”
‘I had Judy [Love] and Charlene [White] wanting to bring food round…I have food coming from all angles!’ she quipped.
Brenda added: ‘It has been great having the ladies there and that is something that is a big part of my life. It’s not that I want to return, I need to return.
‘I’ve missed everyone but I thank you for supporting and being there at the end of the phone for me.’
Revealing: In a preview for the tear-jerking chat Brenda admitted she ‘needs’ to return to Loose Women as her first TV appearance was teased following the tragedy
Candid: Wiping her eyes, the emotional former X Factor contestant told her friend: ‘It was funny because everyone was like, “What can I do?”
It comes after Brenda shared a touching tribute to her late son Jamal as she marked her first Mother’s Day without him.
The former singertook to Instagram with a heartfelt collage, which captured happy memories throughout her late son’s life.
Music mogul Jamal died in February aged 31 following a ‘sudden heart attack’ at the home he shared with mum Brenda, after DJing the night before.
Support: ‘I had Judy [Love] and Charlene [White] wanting to bring food round…I have food coming from all angles!’ she quipped
Ready now: Brenda added: ‘It has been great having the ladies there and that is something that is a big part of my life.It’s not that I want to return, I need to return’
Stroll: ‘I’ve missed everyone but I thank you for supporting and being there at the end of the phone for me’
The collection of photographs heavily featured Jamal with his sister Tanisha during their childhood, whilst proud mum Brenda also shared photos of them altogether.
The poignant post, captioned, ‘Always and Forever.[sic]’, was immediately met with kind condolences from her followers.
‘You are the mother of a legend Miss Brenda,’ one comment read.
Another left their wishes by writing: ‘Special Mother’s Day Blessings Brenda…Love you all forever and always [prayer and heart emojis]’.
‘Always and Forever’: It comes after Brenda shared a touching tribute to her late son Jamal as she marked her first Mother’s Day without him
Jamal – who was credited with launching the careers of numerous pop stars including and Jessie J – is famous for setting up the online media platform SBTV.
It showcased emerging artists, and currently has 1.23 million subscribers to its YouTube channel.
Jamal’s sudden death was announced online on February 20 and later confirmed by his management.
<div class="art-ins mol-factbox news floatRHS" data-version="2" id="mol-1dfb8e40-c555-11ec-aec8-478826f2e04d" website Edwards returns to the Loose Women panel