Linda Nolan
Updated: 12/10/2025, 5:57:20 PM Wikipedia source
Linda Mary Hudson (née Nolan; 23 February 1959 – 15 January 2025) was an Irish singer, actress, and television personality. After moving with her family to Blackpool at the age of three in 1962, she attained fame as a member of the girl group the Nolans in 1974, along with her sisters Anne, Denise, Maureen, Bernie, and Coleen. As a member of the Nolans, she toured with Frank Sinatra in 1975, won the Tokyo Music Festival in 1981, and had seven UK top-20 hits between 1979 and 1982. Soon after leaving the group, Nolan supported Gene Pitney on his 1984 UK tour. She then went on to perform in theatre, including an eight-season residency as Maggie May on Blackpool's Central Pier (1986–1993), where she clocked up over 1,000 performances, followed by two seasons as Rosie O'Grady on Blackpool's South Pier (1994–1995). She reunited with the Nolans for the 2009 I'm in the Mood Again album and tour, and in 2014, she took part in the 13th series of Celebrity Big Brother. In 2018, she was a recurring guest panellist on Loose Women.
Infobox
Born
Linda Mary Nolan(1959-02-23)23 February 1959Dublin, Ireland
Died
15 January 2025(2025-01-15) (aged 65)Blackpool, Lancashire, England
Occupations
mw- .inline, .inline dl, .inline ol, .inline ul, dl dl, dl ol, dl ul, ol dl, ol ol dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd dd , dd dt , dd li , dt dd , dt dt , dt li , li dd dd ol li Singeractressauthortelevision personality
Years active
1974–2025
Television
Top of the PopsCelebrity Big BrotherLoose Women
Spouse
mw- Brian Hudson (m. 1981; died 2007)
Family
mw- Anne Nolan (sister)Denise Nolan (sister)Maureen Nolan (sister)Bernie Nolan (sister)Coleen Nolan (sister)Jake Roche (nephew)
Tables
· Filmography
1979
Mike Yarwood In Persons
Role(s)
Performer
Notes
Series regular
1979–1982
Role(s)
Top of the Pops
Notes
Performer
1984–1989
Role(s)
Blankety Blank
Notes
Panellist
2003
We Are Family
Role(s)
Contributor
Notes
Documentary
2004
Saturday Night Takeaway
Role(s)
Herself
Notes
1 episode
2005
All Time Greatest Party Songs
Role(s)
Performer
Notes
1 episode
2009
The Nolans: In the Mood For Dancing
Role(s)
Herself
Notes
Documentary
2011
Come Dine With Me
Role(s)
Participant
Notes
5 episodes
2010–2012
Role(s)
The One Show
Notes
Reporter
2012–2014
Role(s)
Big Brother's Bit on the Side
Notes
Panellist
2014
Most Shocking Celebrity Moments
Role(s)
Contributor
Notes
Documentary
2016
The Seven O'Clock Show
Role(s)
Guest
Notes
1 episodes
2018
2006–2018
Role(s)
Lorraine
Notes
Guest
2007, 2018
Role(s)
Loose Women
Notes
Guest/Performer/Panellist
2018–2019
Role(s)
Jeremy Vine
Notes
Panellist
Sources:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1974 | It's Cliff Richard! | Performer | Series regular |
| 1979 | Mike Yarwood In Persons | Performer | Series regular |
| 1979–1982 | Top of the Pops | Performer | 15 episodes |
| 1984–1989 | Blankety Blank | Panellist | 7 episodes |
| 1999 | Never Mind the Buzzcocks | Mystery guest | 1 episode |
| 2003 | We Are Family | Contributor | Documentary |
| 2004 | Saturday Night Takeaway | Herself | 1 episode |
| 2005 | All Time Greatest Party Songs | Performer | 1 episode |
| 2009 | The Paul O'Grady Show | Performer | 1 episode |
| 2009 | The Nolans: In the Mood For Dancing | Herself | Documentary |
| 2009 | The Late Late Show | Performer | 1 episode |
| 2011 | Come Dine With Me | Participant | 5 episodes |
| 2010–2012 | The One Show | Reporter | 3 episodes |
| 2012–2014 | Big Brother's Bit on the Side | Panellist | 13 episodes |
| 2014 | Celebrity Big Brother | Participant | 24 episodes |
| Most Shocking Celebrity Moments | Contributor | Documentary | |
| 2016 | The Seven O'Clock Show | Guest | 1 episodes |
| 2018 | The Wright Stuff | Panellist | 2 episodes |
| 2006–2018 | Lorraine | Guest | 7 episodes |
| 2007, 2018 | Loose Women | Guest/Performer/Panellist | 20 episodes |
| 2018–2019 | Jeremy Vine | Panellist | 3 episodes |
| Sources: | |||
· Stage
2016
Rumpy Pumpy!
Role(s)
Madame Holly Spencer
Notes
Union Theatre, London
Sources:
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1986–1993 | Maggie May's | Title role | Central Pier, Blackpool |
| 1994–1995 | Rosie O'Grady's | Title role | South Pier, Blackpool |
| 1996–1997 | Prisoner Cell Block H: The Musical | Prison Governor | UK tour |
| 2000–2008 | Blood Brothers | Mrs Johnstone | West End (2000–03) / UK tour (2003–08) |
| 2015–2016 | Menopause The Musical | The Soap Star | Irish & UK tours |
| 2016 | Rumpy Pumpy! | Madame Holly Spencer | Union Theatre, London |
| Sources: | |||
References
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/music/2025/jan/15/linda-nolan-obituary
- The Encyclopedia of Popular Music 3rd Edition Volume V: Louvin, Charlie-Paul, Clarence
- "Steve Pound MP for Ealing North... Maiden Speech"https://web.archive.org/web/20090517215007/http://www.stevepound.org.uk/maidenspeech.html
- Guinness World Records British Hit Singles 14th Edition
- The Daily Mirrorhttps://www.mirror.co.uk/news/tm_objectid=16682287&method=full&siteid=94762&headline=i-ll-fight-this--name_page.html
- All Time Greatest Party Songs
- 11
- "Nolans | Artist"http://www.officialcharts.com/artist/_/nolans/
- This Is Worcestershirehttps://web.archive.org/web/20090112002331/http://archive.thisisworcestershire.co.uk/2000/9/15/355532.html
- "Linda's in the mood for Blood Brothers!"https://www.bbc.co.uk/threecounties/content/articles/2005/05/11/blood_brothers_linda_nolan_feature.shtml
- Willyrussell.comhttp://www.willyrussell.com/blood_stars.html
- Guinness World Recordshttp://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/most-siblings-to-play-same-role-in-a-musical
- Blankety Blank
- Celebrity Pressure Pad
- Pointless Celebrities
- Bbspy.co.ukhttp://www.bbspy.co.uk/cbb10/housemates/coleen-nolan
- Metro.co.ukhttp://metro.co.uk/2014/01/18/jim-davidson-threatened-to-beat-up-linda-nolans-husband-over-frank-carson-dressing-room-theft-celebrity-big-brother-grudge-explained-4267721/
- The Daily Expresshttp://www.express.co.uk/news/showbiz/454437/Linda-Nolan-in-tears-after-row-with-Jim-Davidson-over-Frank-Carson-s-dressing-room
- Celebrity Big Brother 13
- The Belfast Telegraphhttp://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/entertainment/theatre-arts/linda-nolan-nightmare-struggle-since-my-husband-died-28507866.html
- The Guardianhttps://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/jul/06/linda-nolan-vanessa-feltz-rolf-harris
- Sky Newshttps://news.sky.com/story/linda-nolan-to-start-new-cancer-drug-after-brain-tumours-stop-responding-to-treatment-13204642?dcmp=snt-sf-twitter
- Uk.news.yahoo.comhttps://uk.news.yahoo.com/linda-nolan-breaks-down-as-she-opens-up-about-incurable-cancer-diagnosis-152000563.html
- Hellomagazine.comhttps://www.hellomagazine.com/celebrities/2017051538919/linda-nolan-painful-cancer-treatment/
- Huffingtonpost.co.ukhttps://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/entry/linda-nolan-cancer-chemotherapy-party_uk_5a9d2580e4b0479c0254e8fa
- Liverpool Echohttps://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/linda-nolan-shares-one-thing-26759774
- The Independenthttps://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/health-and-families/linda-nolan-health-sisters-cancer-b2327063.html
- BBC Newshttps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c1ezlgzj4vvo
- TVGuide.comhttps://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/linda-nolan/credits/3060403068/
- www.rottentomatoes.comhttps://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/linda_nolan
- WhatsOnStagehttps://www.whatsonstage.com/news/linda-nolan-has-died-aged-65_1660721/
- Stage Faveshttps://www.stagefaves.com/performers/linda-nolan/