Loose Women panellist Coleen Nolan has opened up about the dramatic last-minute decision to cancel her lavish wedding and elope with actor Shane Richie, after he uttered the worrying words: "I can't do this."
The Wedding That Wasn't: Family Pressure Leads to Crisis
Speaking on the Loose Women's Just Between Us podcast, the 60-year-old TV personality recounted the story of her first marriage in 1990. She and EastEnders star Shane Richie had planned a large, traditional ceremony, complete with a wedding dress and a full guest list. However, the couple quickly found themselves sidelined in their own planning.
"The only people who weren't asked about any of it were me and Shane," Coleen explained. "My parents took over and his side of the family took over." The situation reached a breaking point when her mother insisted on inviting a distant relative over Coleen's own childhood best friend, who was relegated to the evening reception only.
'I Can't Do This': The Moment That Changed Everything
It was amidst this mounting frustration that Shane made his startling comment. "I remember he said, 'I can't do this' and of course I thought he meant the whole thing, 'I don't want to get married'," Coleen recalled. Her initial fear was short-lived, as Shane clarified he very much wanted to marry her—just not under the stressful, family-dominated circumstances they found themselves in.
This moment of clarity prompted a radical solution. The couple decided to secretly elope. They told their families they were going on a holiday to Florida, but instead went ahead and got married privately. They broke the news upon their return, and held a blessing for family and friends three years later, in 1993.
Standing Your Ground: Coleen's Advice for Couples
Reflecting on the experience, Coleen, who has been married twice, offered blunt advice to listeners facing their own wedding dilemmas. She warned couples to be prepared to "upset" loved ones when making decisions about their big day, but urged them to stand their ground and put themselves first.
Coleen and Shane Richie's marriage lasted for nine years, until 1999. They share two sons: Shane Nolan and Jake Roche. Coleen was later married to musician Ray Fensome from 2007 until their separation in 2018, with whom she has a daughter, Ciara.
More recently, Coleen confirmed she is single following a split from partner Michael, a supermarket logistics worker she met on Tinder in 2021. She told OK! Magazine in December 2024 that they had decided to remain friends, citing her busy work schedule and life on her farm.
