Loose Women’s co-host Brenda Edwards, 55, has opened up about life after cancer, losing her son to drugs and keeping a positive attitude

Loose Women favourite Brenda Edwards is getting used to a new life, one in which cancer could return at any point. The chemo she needed to fight breast cancer in 2016 caused her early menopause. And in 2022 she suffered the devastating death of her music entrepreneur son Jamal, aged 31.

The second she felt a new lump she headed to the hospital for tests, accompanied by fellow Loose Women star and Mirror agony aunt Coleen Nolan. Brenda, 55, says: “Once you’ve had it, you’re told that if there’s anything else, no matter how big or small, to flag it.

Brenda says how grateful she is for her friend, Coleen Nolan ( 
Image:
Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)“It’s nice to have someone like Coleen [Nolan] because she’s so funny. If you’re in a waiting room and thinking of what could be, Coleen is the perfect person to distract you and keep your mind off the worst.”

Three of 59-year-old Coleen’s sisters, Bernie, Anne and Linda, have had breast cancer. Bernie died in July 2013, aged 52, and fellow Mirror columnist Linda, 65, is fighting secondary breast cancer which has spread to her brain.

Thankfully, Brenda was given the all-clear and has been cancer-free for nine years. She joined Loose Women five years ago and soon became one of the show’s most enthusiastic and positive hosts.

But her zest for life and her enthusiasm to take on new challenges inevitably stems from the tough times she has endured. She says: “Having cancer changes anybody, because you face a life of uncertainty, so it does make you appreciate life every day. I’m very grateful for what life brings me. I’ve always been a go-getter but now I’m even more so. If you don’t try, you’ll never know. You might succeed, so I’ll try almost anything.”

One of Brenda’s current aims is a place on the BBC’s Strictly Come Dancing. It was rumoured she was being considered for this series, although that may have clashed with her return as Mama Morton in a UK tour of award-winning musical Chicago.

Brenda with her son Jamal Edwards ( 
Image:
jamaledwards/Instagram)
Brenda did appear on ITV’s Strictly The Real Full Monty to raise cancer awareness. She says: “They had a ­ballroom scene. It was fun but it was tiring. It was only a minute and I was exhausted. I’ve got two left feet, so I’d be more movement than dance.”

Brenda’s warm-hearted nature means she has made close friends with many of her Loose Women co-stars, including Coleen, Charlene White, Ruth Langsford, Judi Love and Kelle Bryan. She hopes many will be able to see her during her stint in Chicago, which starts later this month until March.

Set amid the razzle-dazzle decadence of the 1920s, it features classic songs such as All That Jazz and When You’re Good to Mama. Her co-stars are former Strictly dancer Kevin Clifton, 42, as Billy Flynn, and former Coronation Street actress Faye Brookes, 37, as Roxie Hart.

Brenda, who lives in West London, found fame in 2005, finishing fourth in the second series of The X Factor, which was won by current Strictly star Shayne Ward, 40.

Since then, she has had a successful musical theatre career, with roles in the UK tour of Hairspray, We Will Rock You in the West End and appearances at the London Coliseum and the Royal Festival Hall. She also released her debut album in 2011.

Born in Bedfordshire to a Caribbean family, Brenda was raised by relatives following the tragic death of her parents in a car crash when she was four. She spent her childhood singing in a Pentecostal choir and, aged 18, sang at local nightclubs, weddings and funerals.

But she had to take a full-time job to make ends meet and worked in accounts. After The X Factor ­showcased her soulful voice, she was signed up to join the West End cast of Chicago in the West End. She says: “It’s really nice to be back in the Chicago family.

“I’m really glad that they asked me if I’d return. Mama Morton is a very stern keeper of the keys – she runs the jail. Am I anything like her? I wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m not as tough but I’m quite straight to the point.”

Brenda is mum to singer-­songwriter Tanisha, and the two supported each other after the loss of Jamal, the founder of SB.TV whose pioneering music channel helped launch the likes of Ed Sheeran. Jamal died in February 2022 from a heart attack after taking cocaine and drinking alcohol.

In August, Brenda marked what would have been his 34th birthday with a sweet message: “I know Jamal is celebrating his birthday today up above, and you can guarantee I will be doing the same.”

Ed, 33, has said Jamal’s death forced him to kick the drug habit which he developed in his mid-20s. He has said: “I would never, ever, ever touch anything again, because that’s how Jamal died. And that’s just disrespectful to his memory to even go near.”

Just like during the cancer scare, Coleen was also a rock for Brenda during her grief. The agony aunt recently told the Mirror about her surprise and pride at the way Brenda managed to go on. For now, that’s just by keeping busy.

And she knows she has to take care of her own health. That’s why she’s even taking an air fryer on tour, rather than be tempted by unhealthy restaurant or hotel meals.

She says: “Since my cancer I researched what I should eat. I was eating a lot of processed foods and not a lot of veg, so spinach is my best friend. I love broccoli, salmon and chicken, and I try to stay away from sugars and white wine and be sensible. Now I drink gin and tonic, which was Queen Elizabeth’s drink.”

She admits being driven but insists: “I’m not a workaholic but there’s no point in doing a job if you’re not going to do it properly. “My whole family are like that. Yet you’ve got to know when to switch off, because all work and no fun makes you a very dull person.”

For Chicago tour dates see chicagothemusical.com/uk-tour