Loose Women star Coleen Nolan has opened up about her stunning transformation from size 20 to size 14
Coleen says she has more energy since losing weight. (Image: Reach Plc / Nicky Johnston)
Striking a pose for our cameras in a stunning array of glamorous ensembles, Loose Women star Coleen Nolan has seldom appeared happier, healthier or more self-assured.
“All the clothes fit and some even have to be pinned because they are big,” she says with an air of mild disbelief. “I’ve never had that happen on photo shoots before. Usually, none of the clothes fit and I have to keep them open at the back and just fake it. I’m just thinking, ‘Wow!'”
At 61, Coleen has undergone a remarkable transformation, dropping from a size 20 to a size 14 through Voy’s weight-loss programme, which provides a combination of weight-loss medication and clinical support to assist users in slimming down.
“I feel so much better health-wise,” she reveals. “My back’s improved, I’ve got more energy. And confidence-wise, of course it helps.”
Yet Coleen is adamant that it’s not about chasing perfection. She says, “I don’t want to lose any more weight – I’m happy. It’s about maintaining now and having a healthy relationship with food and with myself. And with Voy you get 24-7 support,” reports the Mirror.
The mum-of-three concedes her relationship with food hasn’t always been straightforward, admitting, “I used to eat when I was happy and sad.” While she can still feel self-conscious at times, she’s now far more in touch with her body and says, “I don’t worry about it in the same way any more.”
It’s this newfound confidence that has steered the single Coleen towards her latest television venture, Celebs Go Dating. She parted ways with her previous boyfriend, whom she met on Tinder, in late 2024 following three years together. Their hectic schedules eventually proved too much, and Coleen has previously discussed how she grew to favour living on her own.
However, after a year flying solo, she says she feels prepared to welcome love back into her life. “I genuinely want to meet someone and if I’m going to do it, why not do it like this?” she tells us. “I knew I didn’t want to go on the apps again.”
So rather than swiping, she’s now hunting for romance on national television. “If they’d asked me before, I wouldn’t have done it as I wouldn’t have had the confidence,” she says. “I actually phoned my management and said, ‘Can I do this?'”
Nevertheless, she’s the first to acknowledge that dating in your sixties brings its challenges. “It’s a minefield,” says Coleen.
“A lot of the attention I get is from younger men sliding into my Instagram DMs, and I think, ‘Why? What could you possibly want with me?’ My rule is, I don’t want to date anyone I could have given birth to.”
Yet men her own age don’t always measure up, either. “Some of them act really old, like, ‘We’re too old for that now.’ The minute someone says that, I’m out,” she says. “I’m 61, but mentally I’m about 35. I want someone who still wants to live, laugh and do things.” While she’s staying tight-lipped about whether she finds love on the show, she reveals she discovered a great deal about herself during filming and had “the best time” bonding with her fellow cast members, including Celebrity Big Brother winner David Potts, MAFS Australia’s Lucinda Light and ex-rugby player James Haskell.
“The friendships were the best part,” she says. “We’ve got a WhatsApp group and we’re constantly in touch. It was sad when it ended.”
Away from the dating scene, Coleen remains a cornerstone of Loose Women, a position she’s held for more than two decades. “It’s my constant. It’s great,” she says. “It’s like family.”
She’s quick to dismiss any rumours of behind-the-scenes drama, saying, “We all get on. We’ve got a WhatsApp group and support each other through everything. It’s like having 20 extra sisters. “I’m closer to the people I work with most, so people like Christine [Lampard], Ruth [Langsford] and Brenda [Edwards].”
“She’s also welcoming the newer faces on the panel, amongst them podcaster GK Barry and former Love Island star Olivia Attwood. She says, “I learn so much, even if I don’t understand half of what they’re saying.”
Recent budget cuts at ITV have proved to be a double-edged sword for Coleen. “On the one hand, it’s nice to have a bit more time off,” she says. “But on the business side, I think, ‘I’ve got a mortgage to pay.’ We get paid per show and I’m filming fewer shows. But it has given me more incentive to do other TV work.” When she’s not in the studio, Coleen is at her happiest on her Staffordshire farm, leading a vastly different life from the one viewers witness on screen.
“Today I am all glam, but by this time tomorrow I’ll be at home, no make-up, hair scraped back, covered in horse muck,” she laughs. “I’ve got horses, pigs, goats, five dogs, six cats and chickens. It’s full-on, but it’s my dream.”
Family sits at the core of everything she does, and her daughter Ciara, 24, her only child with ex-husband Ray Fensome, resides in an annexe at the farm with her fiancé Maxx and their five-month-old son Sidney.
Her eldest son Shane Jr, 37, from her marriage to EastEnders actor Shane Richie, lives ten minutes away with his wife Kim and their five-month-old baby Cruz-Carter. And while her younger son Jake, 33, and his wife Georgia are based in London, Coleen regularly jumps on the train to babysit grandson Rudy.
“It’s chaos, but it’s the best kind,” she smiles. “We just muck in together. When I’m working, Ciara does everything, and when I’m home, we share it.”
Coleen takes great pride in maintaining a cordial relationship with her ex-husbands. “I love my relationship with both of them – it’s so much nicer for everyone,” she says. “In the early days it was hard, but watching my kids thrive without feeling torn between parents or being used as weapons is my greatest achievement.
“Both my ex-husbands were at my son Jake’s wedding and Ray stays at my house when he’s gigging in the area. And they’re the first on the phone if something bad happens.”
Coleen is a devoted grandmother who thoroughly embraces the role, even when it leaves her worn out. She says, “Sometimes I walk in the door and they go, ‘Oh great, you’re home, can you have the kids?’ and I’m like, ‘Oh God, not today.’ But I absolutely love it.”
Coleen remains resolute in making the most of life, a feeling shaped partly by personal heartbreak. Her sisters, Bernie and Linda, both passed away after battles with cancer.
“It makes you reassess everything. You realise none of us knows how long we’ve got,” she explains. “When I’m stressed or tired, I think, ‘They’d love to be here, even worrying about something silly.’ It gives me a kick up the arse. It reminds you how precious every minute is.”
Looking to the future, Coleen shows no signs of slowing down, revealing that she, Ciara and Shane Jr are currently developing a brand new podcast: Nolans Uncensored. “Nothing will be off limits,” she says. “People are often surprised by how we talk to each other.”
Despite her hectic schedule, she remains open to fresh opportunities. “I’d definitely do more reality TV,” admits the star, who triumphed on Celebrity Big Brother in 2017. “I’d do I’m a Celebrity… Get Me Out of Here! and I’ve literally begged to do Strictly Come Dancing. I’ll keep hoping. Life’s too short, so enjoy it while you can.”
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