Loose Women star Coleen Nolan says losing her big sister Linda Nolan in January caused her to spiral downwards – and explains how therapy has saved her

Coleen was deeply affected by Linda’s death(Image: PA)

Coleen Nolan lost a second sister in the New Year when her big sister Linda died, 20 years after being diagnosed with breast cancer. Her death was attributed to pneumonia, and “happened so quickly”, Coleen said, that it sent her on a downward spiral and she “lost her mojo for everything”.

Coleen, 60, took time off from her regular job on the Loose Women panel, and left much of the running of the house and her small farm to daughter Ciara, who lives with her fiancé Maxx in a separate annexe on Coleen’s property. “Linda had cancer for 20 years and was so positive,” Coleen told OK! during an exclusive interview.

Coleen lost her mojo for work, and everything else in her life(Image: Ken McKay/ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

She continued, “I got to a point where I thought she’d outlive us all. Then when it happened, it happened so quickly. Afterwards, I didn’t want to get out of bed. It was overwhelming.

“My kids literally didn’t leave my side and when I needed to be alone, they would be in the next room. Ciara took control of everything and everyone that came round. I’d be asked to do something and say ‘yes’, and she’d jump in and tell them no, I wasn’t ready.”

Linda died on January 15 at Blackpool Victoria Hospital, following Bernie Nolan’s death in 2013, aged just 52.

A statement released by Linda’s agent Dermot McNamara after her death said: “She passed peacefully, with her loving siblings by her bedside, ensuring she was embraced with love and comfort during her final moments. Linda’s legacy extends beyond her incredible achievements in music and entertainment. She was a beacon of hope and resilience, sharing her journey to raise awareness and inspire others. Rest in peace, Linda. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.”

Linda’s death hit Coleen – and Linda’s millions of fans – hard(Image: OK!/David Cummings)

Dermot also acknowledged her achievements as a singer, West End star, TV personality, charity campaigner, author and a founding member of The Nolans – who sold more than 30million records, performed for President Gerald Ford and toured with Fran Sinatra.

Linda’s death came just a few months before Coleen’s milestone 60th birthday, and the straight-talking TV personality said it changed her perspective on the occasion. She started questioning her own mortality, she said, and didn’t want to go to work or socialise.

It was only when Coleen, who has just launched her own YouTube channel about life on her farm, sought help from a therapist that things started to improve.

“I really needed it this year because I didn’t know how to push forward and had an incredible sadness, and when it wasn’t sadness it was numbness. Therapy has absolutely saved me, my therapist can’t give me a pill or an operation to fix me, it ultimately has to come from me, but it gives me the belief and the courage that I’m strong enough to do it.”max