ITV talkshow Loose Women provoked widespread anger on Tuesday after a panel discussion suggested Constance Marten was being judged more harshly because she is a woman.
Marten and Mark Gordon were each sentenced to 14 years in prison on Monday after being found guilty of gross negligence manslaughter over the death of their newborn daughter, Victoria, whose decomposed body was discovered in a shopping bag in Brighton in 2023.
On the show, presenter Christine Lampard was joined by panellists Mariella Frostrup, Janet Street-Porter and Brenda Edwards. The discussion turned to whether female offenders receive different treatment from the media and public compared with men who commit similar crimes.
Street-Porter argued that some coverage sought to "get inside the head of Constance Marten" and suggested the woman may be suffering from mental-health problems that would make psychiatric treatment more appropriate than a conventional prison sentence. "Do we judge her harshly? I think we do," she said, adding that profiles she had read described Marten as living "in an almost parallel world." Edwards said Marten's behaviour could be linked to what she described as a neglectful upbringing, calling it "a product of her environment." Frostrup said women who commit crimes involving children attract heightened scrutiny because such acts are seen as "abhorrent and unnatural" when committed by mothers.
Viewers responded angrily on social media, with many accusing the panel of minimising the seriousness of the crimes. Comments posted publicly included calls for tougher punishment and criticism of any suggestion that Marten's gender or childhood should mitigate culpability. Several users wrote that the focus on Marten's background amounted to excusing the killing of a child.
Loose Women, which airs weekdays on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX, has previously drawn debate for its handling of high-profile criminal cases. The programme's format brings together rotating panellists to discuss current affairs, culture and personal stories.
Court documents and verdicts in the Brighton case established that both Marten and Gordon were found guilty by a jury of gross negligence manslaughter. Sentencers determined the 14-year terms on Monday. The case and the defendants' convictions have continued to generate public discussion about parental responsibility, mental health and the media's portrayal of women who commit violent offences.
The broadcast underscored tensions between commentary that seeks to place criminal behaviour in psychological or social context and public demand for unequivocal condemnation of serious crimes. ITV did not immediately issue a statement in response to the viewer reaction to Tuesday's episode.