Coleen Nolan I Remember…
Reader's Digest UK|Reader's Digest October 2018

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
Coleen Nolan I Remember…

…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.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the {{IssueName}} edition of {{MagazineName}}.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM READER'S DIGEST UKView all
EVERY SECOND COUNTS: TIPS TO WIN THE RACE AGAINST TIME
Reader's Digest UK

EVERY SECOND COUNTS: TIPS TO WIN THE RACE AGAINST TIME

Do you want to save 1.5 seconds every day of your life? According to the dishwasher expert at the consumer organisation Choice, there’s no need to insert the dishwashing tablet into the compartment inside the door.

time-read
3 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
May Fiction
Reader's Digest UK

May Fiction

An escaped slave's perspective renews Huckleberry Finn and the seconds tick down to nuclear Armageddon in Miriam Sallon’s top literary picks this month

time-read
1 min  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Wine Not
Reader's Digest UK

Wine Not

In a time of warning studies about alcohol consumption, Paola Westbeek looks at non-alcoholic wines, how they taste and if they pair with food

time-read
3 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Train Booking Hacks
Reader's Digest UK

Train Booking Hacks

With the cost of train travel seemingly always rising, Andy Webb gives some tips to save on ticket prices

time-read
4 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
JOURNEY TO SALTEN, NORWAY, UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN
Reader's Digest UK

JOURNEY TO SALTEN, NORWAY, UNDER THE MIDNIGHT SUN

Here, far from the crowds, in opal clarity, from May to September, the sun knows no rest. As soon as it’s about to set, it rises again

time-read
8 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
My Britain: Cheltenham
Reader's Digest UK

My Britain: Cheltenham

A YEAR IN CHELTENHAM sees a jazz festival, a science festival, a classical music festival and a literature festival. Few towns with 120,000 residents can boast such a huge cultural output!

time-read
6 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
GET A GREEN(ER) THUMB
Reader's Digest UK

GET A GREEN(ER) THUMB

Whether you love digging in the dirt, planting seeds and reaping the bounty that bursts forth, or find the whole idea of gardening intimidating, this spring offers the promise of a fresh start.

time-read
6 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Under The GRANDFLUENCE Suzi Grant
Reader's Digest UK

Under The GRANDFLUENCE Suzi Grant

After working in TV and radio as an author and nutritionist, Suzi Grant started a blog alternativeageing.net) and an Instagram account alternativeageing). She talks to Ian Chaddock about positive ageing”

time-read
3 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Sam Quek: If I Ruled The World
Reader's Digest UK

Sam Quek: If I Ruled The World

Sam Quek MBE is an Olympic gold medalwinning hockey player, team captain on A Question of Sport and host of podcast series Amazing Starts Here

time-read
3 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024
Stand Tall, Ladies
Reader's Digest UK

Stand Tall, Ladies

Shorter men may be having their moment, but where are the tall women?

time-read
3 mins  |
Reader's Digest May 2024