She’s single for the first time in nearly 30 years, and Coleen Nolan opens up to Closer about the pain of divorce and losing her sister - but why she's now got a new lease of life
She’s about to step away from her famous sisters to launch her first solo singing tour, but Coleen Nolan readily admits she is far from brimming with confidence. In fact, her decision to step on stage alone is part of a concerted effort to face her fears, after a painful few years involving the loss of her beloved sister Bernie and, more recently, her divorce from guitarist Ray Fensome.
Coleen tells Closer: “I last toured as the Nolan Sisters in 2009 and remember standing on stage with Bernie and Ray, thinking I had my whole life mapped out. Now, nine years later, I’ve lost both those people.
Read more about Coleen in this week's Closer - out now.
“When I was first asked to tour alone, years ago, I didn’t have the nerve, but losing Ray and Bernie has taught me that you never know where life will take you. I’ve learned that it’s too short to let yourself be held back by fear and doubt.”
Bernie died from cancer in July 2013 and Coleen, who’s 53, says it was the grieving process that forced her to reassess aspects of her own life, including her marriage. She and Ray wed in 2008 and have daughter Ciara, 17, together, but Coleen also has sons Jake, 25, and Shane, 25, from her marriage to actor Shane Richie.
“Losing Bernie made me think about what I wanted, and whether I should settle for what Ray and I had,” she explains. “As the children grew up we ended on different paths socially. He likes going out and partying, while I prefer to go for a walk or to the cinema. We just weren’t on the same wavelength any more, and it led to the breakdown of our relationship.
“We’d also lost the romantic and physical side of things, but I realised I wasn’t ready to give up on that in my fifties. If I’m going to be in a marriage, it’s got to be more than just friendship. It’s easy to think it’s too late to start again, but everyone deserves to be happy.”
The pair announced their divorce in February, but remain firm friends.
CHECK OUT: Celebrity Big Brother's most outrageous moments
Celebrity Big Brother's most outrageous moments
1 of 31Roxanne Pallett accused Ryan Thomas of punching her
When Roxanne Pallett and Ryan Thomas were play fighting no one was quite prepared when the former Emmerdale actor claimed that he punched her hard in the ribs. She was quick to tell the rest of the housemates, ask Big Brother why Ryan wasn't removed from the house and branded him 'a liar', 'manipulative' and 'calculating'. During a subsequent eviction, the CBB crowd were chanting for Roxanne to leave and shortly after she quit the show.That didn't stop the nation from being furious and Ofcom received over 11,000 complaints. She's since apologised for her actions but Ryan's brother Adam slammed her apology and so did the Corrie star's girlfriend Lucy Mecklenburgh.
2 of 31Kim Woodburn's explosive row
Security entered the house in 2017 to escort Kim Woodburn out, following an explosive row with her housemates.
3 of 31Christopher Biggins' shocking removal
In 2016, Christopher Biggins was removed from the house after making bi-phobic and anti-Semitic comments.
4 of 31Stephen Bear and Chloe Khan's bathroom saga
In 2016, Stephen Bear told Chloe Khan he wanted to "f**k her in the bathroom" while the pair got intimate after locking themselves in the bathroom... The noises were quite something.
5 of 31Stephen Bear's love affair
Then Stephen Bear's girlfriend entered the house to confront him while he balanced some donuts on his head. Peak.
6 of 31Gemma Collins' controversial decision
In 2016, Gemma Collins chose to have a professional blow dry at the expense of her fellow housemates losing out on hot water and the use of hair appliances for the day.
7 of 31Megan McKenna's meltdown
In 2016, Megan McKenna's drunken meltdown got her removed from the house by security.
8 of 31Stephanie and Jeremy's romance
In 2016, Stephanie Davis publicly cheated with Jeremy McConnell, while her boyfriend tuned in to watch...awkward.
9 of 31'David's Dead' confusion
In 2016, Tiffany Pollard was hysterical after mishearing Angie Bowie's news that her husband David Bowie had died, and mistaking him for her fellow housemate David Gest.
10 of 31Stephanie Davis' knickers humiliation
In 2016, John Partridge, Christopher Maloney and Darren Day came across Stephanie's dirty underwear and publicly mocked her stains, referring to them as "pigeon s--t".
11 of 31Winston McKenzie's homophobic slur
In 2016, housemates were left stunned as Winston McKenzie's homophobic views were exposed in a task, as he compared gay adoption to "child abuse".
12 of 31Lewis Bloor and Marnie Simpson's shower scene
In 2016, Marnie Simpson and Lewis Bloor enjoyed a naked romp in the showers.. Want to see Lewis Bloor's penis? You can!
13 of 31Perez Hilton's sexual threats
Perez Hilton repeatedly tells Calum Best he'd "shove his huge dick up your arse" during a heated row in 2015.
14 of 31Perez Hilton harassing Katie Hopkins
During their daily bust-ups in 2015, Perez Hilton tried to lick Katie Hopkins whilst singing "lick it good, suck this d**k just like you should"...charming.
15 of 31Alicia Douvall banana-gate
In 2015, Alicia Douvall was left in tears after housemates caught her stealing bananas and hiding them under her bed.
16 of 31Ken Morley's racist slur
Ken Morley was removed from the house in 2015 for using the 'n-word' in a heated discussion with Alexander O'Neal.
17 of 31Lee Ryan, Casey Batchelor and Jasmine Waltz's love triangle
Following her on-screen romance with Lee Ryan, Jasmine Waltz re-entered the house after he'd moved on to fellow housemate Casey Bachelor in 2014.
18 of 31Leslie Jordan's row with Frenchy
In 2014, Leslie Jordan lost his cool with Frenchy after she cut up his underwear, calling her "white trash" and a "stinking French s**t!"
19 of 31Dappy's raunchy bathroom scene
Dappy 'windmilled' after jumping in the pool with Luisa in 2014.
20 of 31Spencer and Heidi Pratt's villainous antics
In 2013, Spencer and Heidi Pratt prevented housemate Claire Richards from getting a letter from her children. AND celebrated it.
21 of 31Lauren Harries falling over 24/7
Lauren Harries constantly tripped over in 2013. How?
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22 of 31Denise Welch's drunken antics
In 2012, Karissa Shannon threatened to leave and sue the show as a drunken Denise Welch jokingly pulled down her trousers and exposed her bum.
23 of 31Frankie Cocozza and Nicola Maclean get steamy in the hot tub
Frankie Cocozza and Nicola Maclean got steamy in the hot tub in 2012.
24 of 31Julie Goodyear's banana scene
Julie Goodyear got a little too personal with a banana in 2012.
25 of 31Jedward get vajazzled
Jedward got vajazzled by Amy Childs in 2011. Not something you see every day.
26 of 31Alex Reid's beauty regime
Alex Reid got a fake tan in the buff in 2010.
27 of 31Verne Troyer's drunken collision
Verne Troyer had a head-on collision with the Diary Room after getting a bit tipsy in 2009.
28 of 31Jade Goody vs. Shilpa Shetty
Jade vs Shilpa in 2007 led to one of the most controversial CBB moments ever and to Jade's silent eviction from the house.
29 of 31George Galloway's cat incident
George Galloway pretended to be a pussycat in 2006. The nation shuddered.
30 of 31Jackie Stallone's shock arrival
Jackie Stallone's shock arrival in the house in 2003 was accompanied by the immortal line, "Yeaaaah, it's Jaaaackie."
31 of 31Vanessa Feltz tragic meltdown
In the first ever CBB in 2001 Vanessa Feltz had a meltdown and scrawled posh words all over a table.
Coleen has recently had a very public falling out with Kim Woodburn. The former CBB co-stars clashed on Loose Women and Kim stormed out of the studio in tears.
A petition calling for Coleen's resignation from the daytime showattracted over 10,000 signatures.
But the singing legend is in a playful mood when chatting to Closer. When we ask if she's keen to enter the dating scene she roars with laughter.
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“I’m the biggest flirt, but if anyone ever takes me seriously I die,” she giggles. “I haven’t been asked out yet, but I’m either with my girlfriends, at home or at work, where the men tend to be in their early twenties or gay. It’s also hard to use dating apps when you’re in the public eye, and I wouldn’t know where to start.
“I’m quite happy on my own though. I’ve been in relationships for nearly 30 years and I’m really enjoying not having to ask anybody’s opinion. Plus Dairy Milk is better than any man I could hope for!