Coleen Nolan says she feels she has 'no purpose' in heartbreaking life update

31 October 2023 , 11:35

504     0

Coleen Nolan says she feels she has 'no purpose' in heartbreaking life update

ITV's Loose Women presenter Coleen Nolan has opened up about the emotional impact her children leaving the family home has had on her.

The 58 year old star, who is a mum of three, revealed that she finally realised that the phrase "empty nest" syndrome is a real feeling that parents are forced to deal with when their children leave home. Coleen has been in the spotlight since 1974 but when she joined the panel on the ITV daytime show back in 2000, her position as one of the nation's favourite presenters was cemented. In a recent interview she said: "Empty nest is a real thing, who knew."

Coleen Nolan and her three children (Coleen Nolan/Instagram)

She added: "When the children were younger I thought I'd be thrilled when they became independent. But it's the opposite, I've been feeling so redundant, like I don't have a purpose anymore. " She told new! magazine: "I've realised as their mum they'll always need me one way or another. Now it's time to concentrate on me it's like a new lease of life. I've so much I still want to do. It's been scary at times but I've turned that into excitement. I'm more confident to take control of my future now. Success and fail and that's a liberating feeling."

The former singer turned TV personality has been married twice before and her first one was to EastEnders star Shane Richie. The couple wed in 1990 but called time on their relationship nine years later. And her second marriage was to Ray Fensome, who proposed to Coleen on her 40th birthday in 2005. The pair tied the knot two years later but their marriage was not able to stand the test of time and they too parted ways in 2018. But it looks as though Coleen has found love again for the third time - this time it's to man named Michael Jones who she met on the dating app Tinder in 2021.

After a year Coleen said that the relationship began to fizzle out and so decided to split. But after some encouragement from her children, the TV star decided to seek the help of a therapist in order to start looking after her emotional needs. But it was during this time that she realised that she missed Michael and wanted him back. The coupled reconnected earlier this year and Michael has since moved into Coleen's Cheshire home. But they have already started to discuss buying a property together - however, Coleen has insisted on a smaller home as her children have left home.

Adam Thomas says devastating Waterloo Road plot helped him grieve for late dad

Coleen Nolan and boyfriend Michael Jones who she met on Tinder in 2021 (ITV)

The presenter has now admitted that at the time she first met Michael, her children were incredibly protective. But since splitting up and reuniting, all three of her children have noticed a change in the dynamic of their relationship and have now warmed to him. Coleen claims that Michael is far more secure in their union. Reflecting on the time when she was single and looking for love, Coleen added: "If someone had told me three years ago that I'd find love again I would have laughed hysterically. But I feel so lucky now that it's happened."

Lucretia Munro