Coleen Nolan has spoken emotionally about facing her first Christmas without her sister Linda, who died in January at the age of 65 after contracting pneumonia while battling cancer. The Loose Women star described the festive season as 'extremely hard' following the loss of her sibling, whom she called 'the life and soul of family occasions'.
In an interview with Woman Magazine, Coleen, 60, reflected on family traditions, saying: 'Growing up as a family, wherever we were, we'd always come back together for Christmas Day at my mum and dad's. Sadly they're no longer here and then you go on to have your own kids and now our kids have got kids so it's kind of impossible.' She added that the family now tries to meet in the lead-up to Christmas or during 'Twixmas', the period between Christmas and New Year.
Linda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005, followed by secondary cancer in 2017 and a spread to her liver and brain in 2020. However, in an emotional statement announcing her death, sister Maureen Nolan clarified that cancer was not the direct cause. She wrote: 'I would just like to say, to all the people out there who felt inspired by Linda, the big C didn't actually get her. She contracted double pneumonia over Christmas and New Year and because of her immune system it was one battle too much.'
The Nolan family has been deeply affected by cancer, with sister Bernie Nolan dying from breast cancer in 2013 at age 52. Coleen herself revealed a skin cancer diagnosis on Loose Women last year, saying she had carcinoma on her shoulder which was treated, and was later diagnosed with pre-melanoma. She admitted she 'laughed' at the news, adding: 'I thought, Oh well of course I have, cancer loves my family.'
Despite the sadness, Coleen has found joy in the arrival of two new grandsons. Her son Shane and his partner Kimberley welcomed their first child in November, just weeks after her daughter Ciara gave birth. Coleen described the new additions as a source of happiness during a difficult time.
