Coleen Nolan I Remember…

Coleen Nolan, 53, is a singer, TV presenter and author, best known as one of the panellists on Loose Women as well as a member of the family girl group, The Nolans.

- Joy Persaud

…GOING ON STAGE AGED TWO.

Me and the family all sang together and I remember walking out into the ABC Theatre in Blackpool and singing “Santa Claus Is Coming to Town.” I walked out in a little nightie with a teddy bear tucked under my arm. I remember everyone going, “Aaah,” as I walked out.

…LIVING IN BLACKPOOL UNTIL I WAS NINE.

All my family moved from Ireland—they were all born over there—I was the only one born in England, which was hilarious because I was the only one with an English passport. In those days the TV always ended with the national anthem and I used to stand up and all my family used to go, “Sit down, you’re Irish. And I’d respond, “I’m not. I’m English.”

…OUR HOUSE IN BLACKPOOL WAS A REALLY SMALL, terraced house with three bedrooms, one tiny bathroom, a lounge and a kitchen and the ten of us lived in there. I don’t think my brothers ever got to use the bathroom because obviously there were six girls and two boys. It was crazy and loud and just great, really. I remember noise, neighbours in and out and playing on the street.

…BEING OBSESSED WITH HORSES.

I used to spend my life down at the riding stables. I used to go and help with the horses and stay there all day, and then we were normally gigging at night, which was very bizarre.

…WHEN WE FIRST MOVED TO LONDON, we stayed in businessman Joe Lewis’s house for about six months and he had this big mansion in Wentworth overlooking the golf course. He had a swimming pool—it was incredible. And then we found a house in Ilford and it was a big double-fronted detached house so it was just amazing for us all.