Coleen Nolan has opened up about her struggle with empty nest syndrome, confessing in an emotional moment on Tuesday's episode of Celebs Go Dating that she is not ready to be on her own. The 61-year-old Loose Women star, whose three children have all left home, admitted to feeling lonely as she embarks on a new search for love in the latest series of the E4 dating show.
During the episode, Coleen returned to the agency and discussed her recent date with experts Anna Williamson, 44, and Paul Carrick Brunson, 51. When Paul asked her to identify areas where they could help most, Coleen replied, 'I think me mainly. I think I am the problem.' She reflected on her past relationships, including two marriages, and confessed, 'I think I want something and then I get it, and I almost back away from it.'
Coleen also spoke about the impact of her children moving out. She shares sons Shane, 27, and Jake, 33, with ex-husband Shane Richie, and daughter Ciara, 25, with ex-partner Ray Fensome. 'In the last few months, all my kids have moved,' she said. 'You go through the empty nest... for a while it was bliss. But now they are all settled, they all go home, and I thought, I don't know if I am ready to just be on my own.'
Anna Williamson explained that empty nest syndrome is common, and the Cambridge Dictionary defines it as 'the sad feelings that parents have when their children grow up and leave home.' Fans flooded Instagram with supportive comments, with one writing, 'Love @coleen_nolan being honest,' and another saying, 'Hope you do find someone Coleen, you deserve it.'
Back in November, Coleen fought back tears on Loose Women as she described the lead-up to Christmas as 'the loneliest I've felt.' She admitted that while she didn't want to intrude on her children's new lives as parents, she felt isolated. 'It looks like my Christmas tree has been vomited on,' she joked, adding that she normally relies on her daughter Ciara for decorating. 'But I felt really lonely.'
Celebs Go Dating airs on E4.
