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The Fashion Central
The Fashion Central
Katherine Langford

Coleen Nolan Breaks Silence on Finding Joy in Single Life

Photo Credit: Getty Images

Coleen Nolan is all smiles as she settles into single life — and it turns out she’s loving every second of it. The Loose Women star recently hit the big 6-0 and says she’s not in any rush to find love again after splitting from her partner of three years, Michael Jones.

Chatting openly on Loose Women: The Podcast, Coleen admitted she’s happily embracing what she calls her “singledom,” and much prefers the company of her animals these days. “I haven’t found love again, but then, right now, I’ve not been looking for it,” she said. “I’m kind of enjoying my singledom. And the goats. The goats are good and the horses and the animals, they don’t expect anything.”

Living on a farm in Staffordshire, Coleen’s found peace in the quiet life, spending hours every day mucking out and feeding her animals. It’s a far cry from the ups and downs of dating — something she’s had her fair share of. She first met Michael, a supermarket logistics worker, on Tinder back in 2021, and while things started off well, their on-off relationship ended for good last November. They’ve stayed on good terms though, which she says is important to her.

Despite using dating apps in the past and enjoying the experience, Coleen says she’s done with swiping for now. “I do think the best ways are the organic ways,” she said. “And it’s normally through friends or colleagues, or they introduce you to someone.” While she used to love the idea of chatting on apps first to see if there’s a spark, she’s now decided that the whole process, especially meeting strangers, just doesn’t appeal anymore. “I can’t be bothered doing that again,” she added.

Coleen’s had two marriages in the past. She wed EastEnders actor Shane Richie in 1990 and they had two sons, Shane and Jake, before splitting in the late ‘90s. Her second marriage to musician Ray Fensome lasted over a decade, and they share a daughter, Ciara. She’s managed to stay friends with both ex-husbands, as well as with Michael, which she seems genuinely proud of.

These days, her attention is firmly on her home and animals. Her dream of living on a farm has finally come true with a new six-acre property where she’s happily settled. It’s a fresh start that seems to suit her perfectly.

Of course, Coleen’s been in the public eye since her early days with The Nolans, the girl group she formed with her sisters back in the ‘70s. With chart-topping hits like I’m in the Mood for Dancing, they became one of the best-selling girl bands of their time. Since then, she’s been a familiar face on Loose Women, co-hosted This Morning for a bit, and even won Celebrity Big Brother in 2017.

But right now? She’s trading the spotlight for sunshine, silence, and a whole lot of animals — and she couldn’t be happier.

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