SHE'S a queen of daytime TV, as the longest serving panellist on Loose Women, and with her bubbly, down-to-earth personality, Coleen Nolan seems able to cope with anything.
Yet the 54-year-old reveals she felt "really scared" about her upcoming starring acting role in stage production The Thunder Girls, which she took after years of turning down West End roles.
"Loose Women is my dream job and I'm still loving it, but it's exciting to take on something is new and exciting," says Nolan, who was born into an Irish family in Blackpool. "The show's about a girl band who reunite after 30 years of not speaking to one another because greed, envy and ego have torn them apart.
"Having lived and breathed the ups and down of girl band life, I knew this was so perfect for me," adds Nolan, who was the youngest member of one of the most famous showbiz family acts – The Nolans. She and her sisters topped the charts in the 70s and 80s, and reformed in 2009 for a tour.
"We were never toxic like The Thunder Girls," Nolan says. "Our rows only lasted five minutes, as we got on well and loved each other."
She says after years turning down other stage roles, she finally found the courage to conquer her fears after losing her 52-year-old sister Bernie to cancer in 2013. It changed her approach to life.
"Losing Bernie made me realise anything can happen, and you have to grab opportunities and live for each day," she confides. "She's my inspiration because she was so brave."
In the new show Nolan plays Anita, a former pop star who's been in hiding for over 30 years, since an international tabloid scandal left her humiliated and tired of the fame game.
A mum of three, Nolan has had difficulties of her own associated with being in the public eye but says now that "this is a fantastic time in my life".
"My kids are grown up and I'm single, so I have nothing holding me back and can try new things," she adds. "My early 50s have been turbulent with losing Bernie, divorce [Nolan and her second husband, musician Ray Fensome, divorced in 2018] and going through the menopause – but this show marks a new era for me."
Here, she talks about getting through tough times, ditching diets and the joys of single life...
:: How are you finding being single?
"It's fantastic – it's the first time I've been single since age 15. I've always been in long-term relationships and then two long marriages.
"But it's weird because people don't believe me and keep saying, 'You must meet someone'. I just say, 'Give me a breather – honestly guys, I'm happy!'
"I've never really had a moment of being just me, and thinking about what I want to do and being free to do it. I'm absolutely loving it. I live with my kids, as well as four dogs and two cats, so it's a mad house but I'm never lonely."
:: Are you dating?
"I'm not actively looking for a partner. I'd rather let fate decide and if it's meant to be, someone will turn up. To be honest, it's hard to find that confidence again to date, I'm quite shy in social situations, and then there's getting naked with somebody. Just the thought of that brings me out in a sweat of embarrassment.
"I haven't got a type – it's all about personality for me, and if they can make you laugh, that's so sexy.
"My high profile also makes dating difficult. If a younger man chats you up, you do wonder, 'Do they want to go out with me just because I'm on the telly?' I couldn't possibly date someone in their 30s because they'd want to be out clubbing and I just like sitting in watching box sets with a cup of tea – I'm a real homebody. It's my happy place, where I can relax and not worry."
:: How do you feel about your body image?
"I'm confident in my own skin nowadays. That's come with age and maturity. I've ditched the scales and totally given up dieting. Sometimes I'm overweight and sometimes I lose it, but that's just me – I'm not trying to aesthetically please anybody any more.
"I lost five stone and got down to a size 10 once, but still got criticised for other things, so now I think: 'You can't please everybody so you might as well please yourself.'
"It's more about health for me now, rather than looks. I need to lose a couple of stone though as my knees are struggling to support my thighs."
:: How do you look after your health?
"I never go to a gym. I walk my four dogs and it's pretty hard physical work regularly mucking out the stables, where I keep my two horses.
"In my head, I feel in my 20s, but my body tells me I'm not. I've got joint aches due to the menopause and hot flushes. I can't take HRT because of the cancer risk in our family.
"The thought of getting cancer is always in the back of my mind, as I've had three sisters suffer from it and sadly lost one. But I'm vigilant about having an annual check-up and although I've had a few scares in the past, thankfully my fears were groundless."
:: How do you look after your wellbeing?
"I'm a pretty optimistic person and after all I've been through – divorces and losing my sister – I'm generally able to tell myself, 'Come on, you've been through worse and you were absolutely fine'.
"I always feel guilty about moaning because I always think, 'God, Bernie would love to be here moaning about this', and she'd always tell me, 'Shut up and get on with it.' I try to stick by that.
"I can always turn to my wonderfully supportive kids and friends if I need to, and of course, the Loose Women! Also I've had therapy. It's brilliant for venting and clearing your head.
"I'm very open – too open probably – but I'd much rather go, 'I'm having a bad time', and talk it through, rather than keep everything festering inside."
