At the age of 56, Coleen Nolan is living her best life. With a new advice book on the shelves and a blossoming romance, she admits she’s never been more ready for a fresh start. The Loose Women star is the first to admit her love life hasn’t been plain sailing. She split from her first husband, EastEnders star Shane Richie, in 1999 after nearly a decade together when it emerged he was having an affair with a dancer. Then, in 2018, she divorced her second husband, musician Ray Fensome.
But Coleen is finally enjoying romance again after meeting someone special through a dating app four months ago. Although she initially kept the identity of her new man under wraps, Coleen gave her boyfriend a proper unveiling earlier this week when they appeared on Loose Women together.
Opening up about their first date, Coleen's boyfriend, Michael Jones, said, "We were just generally chatting about things anyway, and we seemed to be getting on. I picked where we met, I was there first, she was fine, she chatted non-stop, and I listened for many, many hours."
And Coleen's eldest son Shane had the most hilarious reaction to Michael's Loose Women appearance as he took to Twitter and told his followers, "Hi guys, yes my mum's new fella was on @loosewomen, I have a TV. Thanks."
Coleen remained tight-lipped about Michael when Closer spoke to her last October, but she told us, “When you end up divorced or single at my age, you think, ‘I’ll never meet anyone again’, but you can and I have – and it’s lovely!”
Check out: the most shocking breakups of the decade
Most shocking breakups of the decade - slider
Louise and Jamie Redknapp
They were the British A-list couple that we thought would last but the world was stunned in July 2017 when Louise and Jamie Redknapp confirmed they'd split after 19 years together. Months later Louise opened up about the end of her marriage and following the end of the Redknapp marriage, it was reported that celebrities were refusing to sign up to the BBC show because of the Strictly curse.
Cheryl and Ashley Cole
Cheryl and Ashley Cole first met in 2004 and quickly became an A-list couple. Two years later they tied the knot in an extravagant wedding. However, in 2010 following cheating allegations that were splashed across the media, Chez split from her footballer husband.
Lisa Armstrong and Ant McPartlin
Lisa Armstrong and Ant McPartlin had been together for 23 years and married for 11 but in January 2018, the TV presenter confirmed he was filing for divorce following his rehab stint.However after a drink driving arrest, a second visit to rehab and liking a lot of shady tweets – the pair officially divorced nine months after splitting.
Lenny Henry and Dawn French
At the beginning of the decade, Dawn French and Lenny Henry announced they were splitting after 25 years of marriage.
Paul and Alex Hollywood
Great British Bake Off star Paul Hollywood and his wife Alex split after 20 years together. They'd previously split in 2013 after the GBBO star had an affair with his American co-star but they managed to patch things over and make things work. For a while.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
We still can't believe Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie split in 2016 after ten years together and two years marriage. The couple are parents to six children; Maddox, 18, Shiloh, 13, Pax, 16, Zahara, 14, Vivienne, 11, and Knox, 11. Even George Clooney was stunned at the news; well, to be fair he did find out during an interview.
Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green
We thought they'd be a real-life Romeo and Juliet (minus the death) but Millie Mackintosh and Professor Green called it quits after being married for three years. We weren't the only ones who thought they were a power couple; remember when Craig Lawson joked he'd be the next Pro Green and Millie with Camilla Thurlow? Yeah, that didn't last.
Bruce and Kris Jenner
They're the head of the Kardashian/Jenner household but in 2013 the world was shocked when Bruce and Kris Jenner announced they had separated after 23 years of marriage. A year later, Kris filed for divorce and cited "irreconcilable differences" as the reason. A month after their divorce was finalised, Bruce publicly came out as a transgender woman – Caitlyn.
Katy Perry and Russell Brand
One of the most heart-breaking celebrity break ups was definitely Katy Perry and Russell Brand, after all, she found out their 14-month marriage ended via TEXT. Their entire split was shown on her documentary Part of Me and remarkably Katy still performed on stage just hours after Russell announced he wanted to end their marriage.
Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom
Khloe Kardashian and Lamar Odom had only known each other for three weeks before they tied the knot. Yes, really. They lasted four years before the Keeping Up with The Kardashians star filed for divorce. However, in 2015 she withdrew the file after Lamar suffered a drug overdose and she had to take control of his health decisions. There were reports that the pair would reunite but in 2016 their divorce was finalised.
Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries
Kim appeared to have followed in the footsteps as her younger sister Khloe when she got engaged to Kris Humphries after just seven months. She documented her 'dream' wedding on Keeping Up with The Kardashians but their relationship didn't last and they split just 72 DAYS after their wedding. Their breakup was also documented on their show.
Stormzy and Maya Jama
We're still devastated about Stormzy and Maya Jama splitting, tbh. They were the dream team and had been together for four years – despite being very private they appeared in Vogue magazine together and the grime artist dedicated a song to her. However in August 2019 they called it quits and the TV presenter unfollowed him on Instagram.
Seal and Heidi Klum
Seal and Heidi Klum renewed their wedding vows every year on their anniversary however after a seven-year marriage they called it quits. The A-list couple are parents to four children; Leni (who Heidi had from a previous relationship, but Seal adopted) and during their relationship they also welcomed Henry, Johan and Lou into the world.
Gary Lucy and Natasha Gray
After dating for 10 years and then being married for four, Gary Lucy and Natasha Gray called time on their marriage. The pair confirmed the news in a statement saying, "This was a very difficult decision, but was reached mutually and amicably. No other parties are involved."
Liam Payne and Cheryl
We're pretty sure the world was shocked when Liam Payne and Cheryl announced they were dating. However they then went on to welcome baby Bear Grey Payne into the world and despite breakup rumours they posed together at the Brit Awards in 2018. Unfortunately a few months later – and a total of two years together - they split.
Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy
This break up is still a bit weird and we're not really sure why it happened because – spoiler alert – they're not real people. Anyways, in 2015 the puppets announced the end of their relationship in a lengthy statement.
Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick
Another KUWTK break up – this one more surprising than the others – was Kourtney Kardashian and Scott Disick. The pair had been together for nine years and during that time they welcomed Mason, Penelope and Reign. They'd split a few times throughout their relationship – which included Scott doing to rehab and cheating allegations. However in 2015 they split for good.
Cheryl and Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini
Cheryl literally surprised the world when she announced on Instagram that she had eloped with Jean-Bernard Fernandez-Versini after three months of dating. The pair seemed totally in love until Cheryl raised concerns among fans after losing a lot of weight and slammed any split rumours by revealing her father in law had died. Unfortunately their romance wasn't to last and after 18 months of marriage they split.
Perrie Edwards and Zayn Malik
Little Mix's Perri Edwards and One Direction's Zayn Malik were X Factor sweethearts. They supported each other's career, posted adorable snaps and even got a puppy together. The singers then got engaged but two years later – following cheating accusations and after Zayn quit One Direction – it came to light that he ended their relationship. While she claimed he dumped her via text, he denied it.
Adele and Simon Konecki
She's notoriously private with her life but in 2019 is came to light that Adele and her husband Simon Konecki had split. Awhopping £145m is the figure being talked about in relation to their divorce. In 2012 they welcomed their only child into the world – Angelo.
Chris Pratt and Anna Faris
Chris Pratt and Anna Faris announced they were splitting back in 2018 and a few months later their divorce was finalised. At the time they released a statement, saying: "We tried hard for a long time, and we're really disappointed. "Our son has two parents who love him very much and for his sake we want to keep this situation as private as possible moving forward."They went on to say they "still have love for each other".
Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan
Step Up stars Channing Tatum and Jenna Dewan called it quits after being married for eight years. At the time they insisted they'd "lovingly chosen to separate as a couple". During their relationship they welcomed their daughter Everly into the world.
Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk
We were devastated in June 2019 when one of the hottest A-list couples – Bradley Cooper and Irina Shayk – split after four years together. Apparently the parents to their daughter Lea De Seine hadn't "been good for a few months".
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes
Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes dated for seven years and were married for six but in 2012 it came to light that she had filed for divorce. He later spoke out and admitted he "did not expect" the turn of events.
Jennifer Aniston and Justin Theroux
Friends star Jennifer Aniston and her husband Justin Theroux called it quits after being married for two years. At the time they said the "decision was mutual and loving" and it appeared to be the truth because a year later to paid tribute to his ex-wife to celebrate her 50th birthday.
Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom
Victoria's Secret model and Hollywood actor Miranda Kerr and Orlando Bloom broke up after six years together. After being married for three years they announced they'd been "amicably separated for the past few months" before confirming their relationship had ended.
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth
Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth lived a real-life story after falling in love on the set of The Last Song. However after four years together they split. They were then on/off but decided to call it quits AGAIN after eight years together. Their relationship didn't end there though because they reunited and got married but eight months after their wedding they split again.
Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson
Another couple who took the world by surprise were Twilightstars Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson. They met on the set of the vampire phenomenon back in 2009 and fell in love. While we all thought it would last, it didn't. Their relationship hit a rough patch in 2012 when Kristen's affair with her married director Rupert Sanders was exposed by paparazzi. Robert forgave her and they tried to make it work but they split a few months later.
Fergie and Josh Duhamel
After eight years together Fergie and Josh Duhamel announced their split. Fast forward two years and Fergie filed for divorce.
Matt Leblanc and Aurora Mulligan
In news that shocked Friends fans the world over, In February 2022 it was reported that Matt LeBlanc - best known for playing Joey Tribbiani on the show – had split from his girlfriend of six years, Top Gear producer Aurora Mulligan.
She added, “It’s so nice to feel like an attractive woman again, who somebody fancies. I never thought I’d feel sexy, body- confident and flirtatious again, but I do.”
Coleen, who has a 20-year-old daughter, Ciara, with Ray and two sons, Shane Jnr, 32, and Jake, 29, with Shane, kept Michael out of the public eye in the early stages of their relationship so they could enjoy getting to know each other away from the public eye.
“Can I just have him to myself for a while?” she laughed. “He’s not in showbiz and has a normal life, but he’s met a couple of the Loose Women and most of my family, and he’s taken it in his stride.”
Coleen said her new man is so different to her previous partners that it’s taken some getting used to.
“I finished with him twice because I couldn’t accept why he was so into me,” she smiled. “He cooks for me, comes to Tesco and mucks the goats out with me – the thought of my ex-husbands doing that is hilarious!”
She admitted she was nervous of introducing him to her children, who are very protective of her.
“They’d never seen me with anyone like him, so it was weird for them, too, but they like him so much. Shane said, ‘I love the way he looks at you, Mum. That’s the way you should be looked at’, and it melted my heart.”
Coleen’s ex-husband Ray has also been supportive and the pair remain good friends.
She said, “He’s happier than he’s ever been and when he comes over to see Ciara, he’ll stay for a couple of days, and it’s lovely because there’s nothing there other than friendship. I’ve told him about his new guy and he’s happy for me.”
READ MORE
Coleen Rooney takes up partying, boxing & nip/tucks to cope with Wayne's cheating
After being single for the past three years, Coleen admits she was nervous about being intimate with someone new.
“I couldn’t imagine being naked in front of anyone!” she winced. “It’s a bit like being a virgin again, but when you’re with the right person, it happens naturally. It doesn’t matter if you don’t have a ‘perfect’ body because the right person will make you feel perfect – and I felt that with him.”
She’s said she’ll never marry again, but could this new relationship be a game changer?
“I never thought I’d meet anyone else – I guess you should never say never,” she laughed.
WATCH: Andrea Mclean, Nadia Sawahla and Saira Khan reveal (tipsy) Loose Women secrets
Who is Coleen Nolan's boyfriend?
Coleen is currently dating Michael Jones, 58, after meeting on Tinder last year.
"Obviously seeing Coleen's face pop up was a bit strange," he said during an appearance on Loose Women. "I didn't think for once that we'd match, let alone hear from her.
"I didn’t think she would respond because I didn’t know if she was swiping loads of people, just the odd ones. We chatted for a while, a few weeks actually, through texts and then eventually a phone call because she was quite scared about that."
Michael works in logistics for a supermarket and revealed that his work pals have started calling him "Mr Hollywood" thanks to his relationship with Coleen.
Coleen's view on...
My sisters' struggles
“We’ve become even closer since Anne and Linda were diagnosed with cancer. It puts everything into perspective. If I’m having a bad day, I think of what they’ve gone through and tell myself to shut up and stop moaning!”
Social media
“I’m just sh-t at it! I get asked to post things and my answer is always, ‘Wait till I get home so I can ask my kids to do it’. I do like Instagram, but there’s a part of me that wonders if people actually care what I’m having for breakfast.”
Menopause
“When my periods stopped, I went through a phase of feeling old and surplus to requirements, but I talked myself round and now it’s fabulous. I know some women suffer badly, but I was lucky – just the odd hot flush. I had very bad periods most of my life, so menopause, even with its side-effects, has been a blessing.”
Live. Laugh. Love: Lessons I’ve Learned, by Coleen Nolan, published by Constable, is out now