"The farm has been my dream since I was small'

Loose Women’s Coleen Nolan invites OK! into her new home, where she’s preparing for Christmas as a single woman

- MITYA UNDERWOOD

As one of the most refreshingly honest women in the entertainment industry, Coleen Nolan is certainly not afraid of opening up about the more challenging periods of her life, from divorce dramas to health battles. And today is no different. As the Loose Women panellist proudly flings open the doors of her beautiful new six-acre farmhouse, which is currently covered in a thick blanket of snow, she has some news to share.

Sadly, it transpires that her relocation to the Staffordshire countryside in June isn’t the only major change in her life – she’s also preparing to enter 2025 as a single woman, following a recent split from her partner Michael Jones.

“We’ve decided that we would rather just stay friends, take it as a friendship,” says Coleen, who started dating the supermarket logistics worker in 2021.

“And, you know, it’s nothing to do with anyone else, it’s nobody’s fault. But I’m really busy and when I’m not really busy with work I’m busy on the farm and I feel personally that I can’t give time to everything. We still get along great and hopefully we can continue to be friends, who knows?”

Coleen’s take on the break-up might sound too good to be true, but it’s coming from a woman who counts her two ex-husbands (actor Shane Richie and musician Ray Fensome) among her best friends.

“I think that comes from age and experience,” she says. “With it being my 60th next year I think, ‘I haven’t got time, life’s too short.’ I mean, I hope I have lots of time but I’m not 20 any more, I don’t want to wait for two years and see what happens.

“I’m not going to say it wasn’t sad, because of course it was. But I really hope that once that sadness goes away we can continue to be friends. I don’t regret any of it, it was fabulous. Michael came along at just the right time for me and I think over the last three-and-a-half years we’ve helped each other grow.