feared that Christmas 2024 would be her last and hoped that she would “keep breathing and see another one.”
Tragically, the star of The Nolans who rose to fame with her sisters over half a century ago, on Wednesday January 16 2025. She had been battling secondary breast cancer, two decades after her initial diagnosis.
Merely weeks prior to her passing, Linda had been eagerly anticipating the holiday season, planning to rejoice alongside 20 family members. Tragically, she was beset by a “mystery illness” while continuing to cope with her incurable condition.
In an interview with Woman magazine shortly before her death, Linda expressed her Christmas wish: “My Christmas wish is that I will be here to see everybody next year as well.”
Her health declined to such an alarming extent that she feared her time was drawing to a close, prompting her to reflect on the loss of her cherished sister Bernie, who succumbed to breast cancer in July 2013.
Linda spoke regularly of her devastating journey with cancer and chemo (Image: Andy Stenning/Daily Mirror)
Linda’s condition was so dire that she was unable to eat for 11 days during the festive period – a distressing symptom, especially at a time typically associated with indulgence. “A complete wipe out. Everyone’s been so worried,” she wrote in her column for The Mirror.
“The girls have been bringing me energy drinks and that’s all I’ve been able to get down.” Her doctors eventually attributed her condition to a severe bout of influenza.
“I became so weak I’d walk a few steps and struggle to catch my breath. My legs were even more unsteady than usual and, of course, although I try not to, I immediately thought of how Bernie was at the end. You think, Oh my God, is this it? “
On New Year’s Eve, Linda visited the hospital, where she received steroids in addition to antibiotics. “They sent me back home to rest and she [Denise] was then reassured enough to go to Coleen’s New Year’s party as my friend Sue and her husband Graham came round to stay. I was asleep by 10.10pm but that was pretty good going!”
Her doctors eventually attributed her condition to a severe bout of influenza. “I missed out on pizzas and babies – our new great nephews, Coleen’s son Jake’s boy and our brother Tommy’s new grandson. But for the first time in my life I wasn’t in the mood for cuddles.”
Despite having days when she felt “terribly down,” Linda remained focused on a positive outlook, planning outings with her sisters including Loose Women’s Coleen. Yet, the reality of medical crises was ever-present during her fight against cancer.
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Linda passed peacefully, with her loving siblings by her bedside (Image: OK!/David Cummings)
In a candid admission to the Mirror in December 2024, after a particularly bad fall, she recounted how “My legs just gave way from under me.”
Resulting from one tumble that made her appear as if she’d been “five rounds with Michael Tyson”, her sister Denise, alongside her husband Tom Anderson, intervened, convincing Linda to live with them for support.
Linda, who tragically lost her own husband Brian to liver cancer in 2007, also found solace in the unwavering support from her siblings, including Tommy and Brian.
The Nolan family has faced their fair share of cancer battles, with Coleen undergoing skin cancer removal and Anne Nolan courageously sharing her journey through stage three breast cancer at age 73.
She had previously faced cancer in 2000, but after chemo, by December she confirmed being cancer-free. Linda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and went into remission a year later.
However, in 2017, she heartbreakingly revealed that she had been diagnosed with secondary cancer in her hip, which spread to her liver in 2020.
The Nolan Sisters, circa 1977 (Image: TV Times via Getty Images)
By 2023, the cancer had further spread to her brain. She died peacefully on Wednesday, surrounded by her sisters. Her final moments were filled with “love and comfort”.
In a statement released to the Mirror, agent Dermot McNamara announced: “It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Linda Nolan, the celebrated Irish pop legend, television personality, Guinness World Record holding West End star, Sunday Times bestselling author and Daily Mirror columnist.
The statement added: “She passed peacefully, with her loving siblings by her bedside, ensuring she was embraced with love and comfort during her final moments. Linda’s legacy extends beyond her incredible achievements in music and entertainment.
“She was a beacon of hope and resilience, sharing her journey to raise awareness and inspire others. Rest in peace, Linda. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.”
With a legacy beyond their personal struggles, the Nolans have enjoyed phenomenal success in the music industry, selling over 30 million records worldwide, celebrated for hits like Attention To Me, Gotta Pull Myself Together, and their dance anthem I’m In The Mood For Dancing.