Coleen Nolan admits she still doesn't know if she can do Real Full Monty's final reveal after 'panic attacks'
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Eight female celebrities twirl their feather fans in an enticing dance routine as they bravely prepare to bare all to millions.
Rehearsals are going well for ITV show the Real Full Monty: Ladies Night – a female version of last year’s hugely successful effort by male celebs, who got their kit off in aid of prostate cancer.
The Mirror’s advice columnist Coleen Nolan – who breezes through the moves with the grace of an experienced performer thanks to her Nolan Sisters days – is joining the women in aid of the fight against breast cancer.
In nine days, she could be stripping off in front of a live audience of 2,000 people – not to mention the TV audience of millions watching at home.
Uncharacteristically nervous, Coleen says: “I just don’t know if I can do it. I’m having nightmares about the feathers. I’ve been lying in bed at night and I’ve had panic attacks.”
(Image: ITV)
But Coleen is spurred on by the thought of helping the fight against breast cancer.
Her sister Bernie died in 2013, aged 52, after a three-year battle with the disease. And sister Linda, 59, is living with incurable secondary breast cancer. A third sister Anne, 67, also battled the disease in 2000.
Then there’s the fear of disappointing her fellow celebs – who in some cases have more than shyness to overcome.
The cast also includes broadcaster Victoria Derbyshire and singer Michelle Heaton, who have both undergone mastectomies. They have also said they might chicken out of the full reveal on the night.
(Image: BBC)
Coleen’s determination to be there for them shines through.
“If I don’t do the reveal I’ll let everyone down,” she says. “It doesn’t matter if I’m shy. I have had to really change my mind-set many times so far.”
Coleen, Victoria, 49, and Michelle, 38, will be joined on the show by ­Emmerdale’s Sally Dexter, 57, comedian Helen Lederer, 63, Hi-de-Hi! legend Ruth Madoc, 74, reality star Megan McKenna, 25, and TV and radio presenter Sarah-Jane Crawford, 34.
(Image: ITV)
They hope to improve on the huge success of the men’s Real Full Monty show, which crashed a prostate charity’s website with thousands of online donations.
Over two nights at the end of the month, viewers will witness the women’s roller coaster journey as they learn the routine and prepare for the big show at the end.
“Linda came to see us on one of the filming days” says Coleen, who has just celebrated her 53rd birthday.
(Image: ITV)
“She got really emotional when she saw us. She was saying, ‘I want you to know I’m so proud of you all and you should be proud of yourselves.’ Michelle and Victoria have the scars of cancer – but they are survivors and they wear them with pride.
“Hopefully this show will wake people up to the possibility of breast cancer and realise they need to check themselves.”
Last month Coleen explained in the Mirror that she is splitting from husband of 10 years Ray Fensome – but he is still supporting her through her TV ordeal.
Guitarist Ray, who has a daughter Ciara, 16, with Coleen, has been sending texts of encouragement throughout the process.
(Image: ITV)
Coleen says: “We did a practice run in front of 30 people and I just couldn’t do that final reveal.
“Of course it knocks your confidence because you think, ‘What if I get to the night and can’t do it?’
“I texted Ray and said I couldn’t do it and he’s like, ‘Well don’t be an idiot and just get them out’.”
The fear of revealing her body is very real for Coleen, who says she is so shy that she does not even walk around her house in her underwear.
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In April 2017 she posed nude with fellow Loose Women hosts for an un-retouched photo shoot in support of their Body Stories campaign to encourage body positivity.
She admits she was one of the last to agree to it – but that experience helped her find the confidence to take part in this show. “I haven’t met anybody whatever size they are who is 100% happy,” she says.
“Everyone has a bit they don’t like. That would still apply if I was a size 8.”
Choreographed by Diversity’s Ashley Banjo, the group are dancing to This Is Me from the film The Greatest Showman, in an emotional routine designed especially for them. Their costumes are being kept firmly under wraps.
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Coleen says: “There were lots of tears from the girls when we saw the routine. I didn’t cry but I wanted to scream because I loved it so much.
“A few of the girls cried because at first we were so worried about how it was going to come across, we didn’t want to look like strippers or like we were trying to be sexy.
“It was really important to get a powerful strong message across that all ages, all shapes of women can be affected by breast cancer.”
Her newfound single status after the heartbreaking split from Ray has also helped Coleen find her inner confidence to get over the nudity.
(Image: ITV)
“I’m liking my independence,” Coleen says. “I’ve been in relationships and marriages since I was 21.
“So now at 53 I’m my own boss for the first time. The only permission I need from anyone now is from me.
“Whether it’s right or wrong, it’s just my decisions. I’ve just got to the point of as long as I’m happy I don’t have to aesthetically please anyone else.
“I think it comes with age and losing a sister who was 53. You just think life is too bloody short.
“Bernie used to go on health kicks and diets and loved life so when cancer took her you just think, you know what, life can taken away so quickly – you have to live it to the full.
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“I’m training myself to see the positives, instead of thinking, ‘My second marriage has failed, I’ve got one sister who has died and my other sister’s got secondary cancer’.
“If I really thought about everything’s in my life, I probably wouldn’t come out from under the duvet.
“But I’m trying to see the positive in everything because you’re only here once – you need to make it count.”
No one knows how many of the cast will go all the way and complete the routine’s big reveal – but Coleen is optimistic that she will come through on the night.
She says: “I know Bernie will be proud. She would love it and I can’t wait for Linda to see it.
“If getting my 53-year-old breasts out saves just one life, it’s worth it.”
The Real Full Monty: Live is on ITV on Wednesday March 28 and Thursday March 29 at 9pm.
What they say...
Ruth Madoc: I have been baring my bosoms since you were all a twinkle in your parent’s eyes because I have been in the business a long, long time
Sarah Jane Crawford: I discovered a breast lump in 2014. I had it removed and it wasn’t cancerous but it did need removing because potentially it could have changed into something in the future.
This is a really good way to make noise on the subject in a different way.
Helen Lederer: The reminder of what we could be achieving makes up for the embarrassment and the fear and the shame of not having the kind of figure deep down one would prefer to have.
Megan Mckenna: I wondered: “‘Can I do this?” But it’s raising awareness for the right things and my following is quite young. I know as a teenager I wouldn’t be sitting at home thinking I need to check my breasts.
Victoria Derbyshire: In the privacy of my own home I walk around naked, in front of my two boys aged 14 and 11 and my partner, and no one bats an eyelid. I’m happy that my kids can see what a mum-of-two who has had breast cancer looks like.
I don’t really care about the fact I have one breast that doesn’t match the other because I have had breast cancer and that’s what can happen.
Sally Dexter: In Emmerdale my storyline was I had a double mastectomy.
The first person I really knew of who had a double mastectomy was my body double. She whipped her jumper off and said: “This shows me I’ve survived something and not to be ashamed of it.”
Michele Heaton: “The reason I’m doing this show is because I’ve had a double mastectomy and hysterectomy because of the cancer gene I carry.
“The last five years have been a struggle, with my scars and dealing with my body. When I got asked to do this my initial reaction was ‘no’.
“But my husband said ‘maybe you will change someone’s life and give them more confidence’.”