EXCLUSIVE: Coleen Nolan Reveals Family ‘Blanked’ Her Over Loose Women Confessions

Television favourite Coleen Nolan has revealed that her trademark honesty on ITV’s Loose Women has occasionally caused awkward silences at home — with her own family sometimes giving her the “cold shoulder” after she opens up about their private lives on national television.

The 60-year-old singer, TV star, and proud member of the legendary Nolan Sisters admits that baring her soul on the daytime talk show can come with emotional consequences once the cameras stop rolling.

“I’ve gone home to silence before,” Coleen confessed in a candid new interview. “They don’t always appreciate me being so open.”

‘They’ll Give Me the Silent Treatment’

Known for her warm humour and unfiltered honesty, Coleen has long been one of the most relatable voices on Loose Women. From marriage and motherhood to heartbreak and healing, she’s never shied away from tough topics — even when it means revisiting painful chapters of her own life.

But she says that candour sometimes lands her in hot water with those closest to her.

“Sometimes my family just blank me,” Coleen admitted. “If I’ve talked about something a bit close to the bone, I can tell they’re not thrilled. They’ll go quiet, and I know — okay, maybe I overshared that time.”

Despite the occasional tension, Coleen insists that honesty is part of who she is — and a big part of what makes Loose Women resonate with viewers.

“I always tell them in advance,” she explained. “If we’re talking about things like children or divorce, I’ll say, ‘Look, this is going to come up, and I’m not going to hold back.’ I can’t sit there pretending to be someone else.”

Balancing Openness and Privacy

Coleen first rose to fame in the late 1970s as part of The Nolans, the chart-topping girl group she formed with her sisters. Hits like I’m In the Mood for Dancing made the band household names — and cemented Coleen’s reputation as the family’s bubbly yet grounded personality.

But life in the public eye has never been easy. Decades later, Coleen’s decision to share her personal experiences on daytime TV has sometimes tested family boundaries.

“I think when you grow up in a big Irish family, everyone has an opinion,” she laughed. “They’ll tease me and say, ‘We can’t tell you anything or it’ll be on Loose Women tomorrow!’”

Still, she’s careful about what she reveals — especially when it involves other people’s emotions.

“With personal stuff, I don’t share until it’s kind of settled,” she said. “As far as my break-ups from my husbands — not Shane [Richie], because we’d already split before I joined Loose Women. But with Ray, there were a couple of years before I talked about it publicly.”

She adds that her restraint comes from empathy. “I’m always aware of the other person — it’s not fair on them,” she continued. “Obviously, when it’s all done, I’ll say, ‘Yeah, it was a hard couple of years,’ but not while we’re going through it. It was hard for him as well.”

The Cost of Honesty

Coleen’s personal life has often been part of her public persona. Her marriages — first to actor Shane Richie, then to musician Ray Fensome — were headline news, and her candid reflections on love and loss have earned her both admiration and criticism.

But far from being deterred, she says sharing those experiences has helped others — and herself.

“People stop me all the time and say, ‘Thank you for saying what we all think but don’t dare say,’” she revealed. “That makes it worth it. If my story helps even one person feel less alone, then I’ve done something good.”

She also believes that openness is key to connection — both on television and in life. “We talk about serious things on Loose Women — divorce, menopause, grief, self-worth — and it matters,” she said. “If I’m going to sit there pretending everything in my life is perfect, then what’s the point?”

Learning to Laugh Again

In recent years, Coleen has become one of the most recognisable and enduring faces on British television. Beyond Loose Women, she’s appeared on Celebrity Big Brother, The Real Full Monty, and Coleen Nolan’s Real Women.

Despite the occasional family frost, her relationships remain strong. “We always make up,” she said warmly. “They know me — I speak from the heart. Maybe sometimes I say too much, but it always comes from love.”

And as for the future, she has no plans to stop talking anytime soon.

“I’m 60 now, and I feel freer than ever,” she said. “I’ve learned to own my mistakes and my truth. Life’s too short to hold everything in. If being honest gets me the silent treatment now and again, I’ll take it.”

The Voice of Real Life

For all the glitz of show business, it’s Coleen’s realness that keeps her fans devoted. She may ruffle feathers at home, but she remains the heart of Loose Women — fearless, funny, and always unapologetically herself.

“I’ve had an amazing life — messy, emotional, wonderful,” she smiled. “And I’ll never stop talking about it. Because if you can’t laugh or cry about what you’ve been through, what’s the point?”