Coleen Nolan has responded to suggestions she's a "millionaire". The Loose Women star has discussed her financial concerns amid nationwide price rises for everyday essentials, driven by inflation and the war in the Middle East. Nolan, 61, has been forthright about her monetary circumstances in recent months, following the continuing reductions at ITV during their substantial scheduling overhaul. While Coleen is a Loose regular, the programme, which formerly broadcast daily, has been removed from the ITV timetable and now airs for just half the year. It was previously claimed that Coleen, who rose to prominence alongside her sisters in the group The Nolans, had accumulated a fortune of approximately £5million from her music and television career. Nevertheless, the Blackpool-born star has now stated that this couldn't be further from the truth.
In the most recent episode of her family podcast, Nolan's Uncensored, Coleen's eldest son, Shane, revealed that numerous people presume that the family are "minted". "I hate that," Coleen said, adding, "They do, honestly, I wish to God that was true.
"Everything I do, people go, 'It's alright for you, you can afford it', we are far from millionaires, far, far far!" The star went on: "I think that's the thing that winds me up, still for me now, because if anything happens, it's 'That's alright for you, you can afford it' or 'You obviously got it free'."
Coleen also spoke candidly about the financial strain of maintaining her six-acre family farm in Staffordshire, revealing that owning such a property had been a lifelong ambition.
She remarked: "My dream from being a toddler has been I wanted to live on a little farm with all my animals and it's taken me 160 years but I am. OK, we need to work on the aesthetics, but I am here, and I am doing it, I just didn't know it would be this hard, I didn't realise it would be this hard as in doing it all. Because contrary to what you all believe, I am not a millionaire and I can't afford staff!"
Earlier this year, Coleen disclosed that Loose Women being removed from the schedules for several weeks annually, resulting in panellists appearing less frequently, had triggered money concerns. She said: "On the one hand, it's nice to have a bit more time off.
"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."
Additionally, she stated on a podcast: "It could have been worse, they could have said 'By the way, we're not recommissioning it, see you later.'" True to her intentions, Coleen subsequently joined E4's Celebs Go Dating, which is understood to have delivered a substantial fee. Despite actively seeking romance following her separation from former partner Michael Jones, Coleen is adamant that she is "not desperate". While she has previously remained on friendly terms with people she has connected with through dating apps, she insists this approach will not be repeated on this occasion.
She explained: "That's my issue. I stay friends with everyone. I'm definitely not looking for another friend. So yeah, it's not been bad. The thing is, I'm not desperate. I'm not, 'Oh my God. I've got to meet someone.' Would I like to meet someone? Absolutely. That would be lovely.
"But if I don't, I'm in a really self-sufficient, happy place anyway. You know? With kids and grandkids and animals everywhere. So it's not like an absolute need, but is it a want? Yeah, I guess it is."
