Linda Nolan died aged 65 after a lengthy battle with cancer (Image: ITV)
was once investigated by the Department for Work and Pensions () for claiming £12,000 worth of benefits while working.
following a lengthy battle with cancer. Linda was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and underwent a mastectomy as well as chemotherapy.
Three months after the mastectomy, by which time she was halfway through having treatment, Linda returned to work as she had no savings to fall back on.
The Irish star was dealt another heartbreaking blow in 2007 when Brian Hudson, her husband of 26 years, died after losing his battle with skin cancer.
The tragedy left Linda “severely depressed” and unable to work, she revealed to in 2018.
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Linda feared she would be sent to prison after being investigated by the DWP (Image: Getty)
After speaking with her counsellor and friends, Linda decided to claim benefits which enabled her to pay her rent and bills.
But in 2014, the actress was investigated by Blackpool Borough Council and the because of the benefits she was claiming, worth £12,000.
She told the publication: “I thought I’d stuck to the rules religiously, but some of the things they thought of as ‘work’ just hadn’t occurred to me. I thought working meant doing a stage show, not quick television interviews.
“Eventually, I came up with a monthly repayment plan and was told the investigation had been closed, only to receive a court summons.”
Linda added: “Even though I was repaying the money, they’d decided I should be punished anyway. I was devastated and scared to death, fearing imprisonment.”
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Linda was diagnosed with cancer in 2005 and again in 2017 (Image: Getty)
The ended up dropping the charges a few weeks later and the council offered Linda the chance to accept a caution.
In 2017, Linda was diagnosed with secondary cancer in her hip, which spread to her liver in 2020. Three years later, the cancer spread to her brain.
Linda died at around 10:20 am at Blackpool Victoria Hospital surrounded by her siblings and “love and comfort”.
Four of the Nolan sisters have been diagnosed with cancer over the years. Bernie died from breast cancer aged 52 in 2013.
Anne has undergone successful treatment for cancer twice, while Coleen announced that she had been diagnosed with skin cancer in 2023 before revealing she was cancer free within the same year.