TV personality Coleen Nolan recently shared insights into her initial divorce, revealing the reasons for prolonging the marriage beyond what she felt was necessary. The 60-year-old panelist of Loose Women has experienced two divorces, the most recent being from musician Ray Fensome in 2018. However, her most notable relationship was with EastEnders actor Shane Richie.
Coleen and Shane tied the knot in 1990 but separated in 1997, finalizing their divorce two years later due to allegations of infidelity. During a candid discussion with their eldest son, Shane, 37, on her YouTube channel, she confessed to staying in the marriage longer than she should have, driven by concerns about her children growing up in a broken home.
Realizing the impact on her sons, she sought therapy, which led her to understand the importance of not setting a precedent for tolerating unacceptable behavior. Following this realization, she decided to end the marriage, emphasizing the importance of teaching her sons about respect and healthy relationships.
Apart from Shane, Coleen shares another son, singer Jack Roche, 33, with her first husband. After her first divorce, she remarried Ray Fensome in 2007, only to part ways 11 years later. Their union brought forth their daughter, Ciara Fensome, in 2001.
Reflecting on her past decisions, Coleen expressed gratitude for the amicable relationships maintained between her children and both ex-partners. She highlighted the effort required to ensure a positive outcome, especially when children are involved.
Her son, Shane, acknowledged the potential for parents to weaponize their children in divorce situations, but commended Coleen for not resorting to such behavior. Coleen affirmed her stance, having observed the negative impact it had on friends and vowing never to follow that path.
These revelations come as Coleen prepares to launch her new one-woman show, “This Is Me,” which delves into her life story. Despite potential vulnerability, Coleen values honesty and openness, ensuring she can rest easy knowing she has been transparent about her experiences.