Coleen Nolan is taking an "immediate hiatus" from ‘Loose Women’.
The 53-year-old presenter has had a difficult week after having an on-air spat with her former ‘Celebrity Big Brother’ co-star Kim Woodburn – with whom she has a long running feud – and later receiving harsh criticism from trolls online who told her they hope she "dies like [her] sister" Bernie Nolan, who passed away from breast cancer aged 52 in 2013.
And after dropping out of her scheduled appearances on the ITV talk show this week, her team have revealed she won’t be coming back to the programme for some time as she’s taken an "immediate hiatus".
In a statement released on Twitter, they said: "Following the constant online bullying, trolling, and misrepresentation of her words, actions and re-actions, it is with sad regret that Coleen is taking an immediate hiatus from all her current commitments including Loose Women and postponing her Never Too Late solo concert tour.
"Coleen has spent 50 years in show-business and 18 years as one of the most loved members of the Loose Women panel, and has never been subjected to such a horrifying torrent of online abuse or such a heart-breaking attack on her reputation.
"Coleen is devastated to let her supporters and fans down, but is currently not strong enough to withstand this constant and unfounded online abuse, so she will be taking time out and spending it with her children and family where she feels loved and respected.
"She sends her love to everyone who has supported her and knows who she really is and plans to return when she feels stronger."
Coleen and Kim had been at loggerheads ever since they starred on the Channel 5 reality show last year, and fans had tuned into ‘Loose Women’ last week hoping to see the pair reconcile, but were left shocked when 76-year-old Kim brand Coleen "lying trash" and a "piece of filth" before storming off the set after a heated row.
When some critics then took Kim’s side and blasted Coleen on social media, she reduced to tears, and said she considered walking away from her showbiz career entirely.
She said earlier this week: "I don’t know what I did wrong? I didn’t say anything. I said about two things. She needs help. I feel terribly sorry for her.
"I’ve never called her names. She’s called me every name under the sun. But to be called a bully … and then to have messages going, ‘Why can’t you die like your sister?’ ‘Can’t you get cancer like your sister?’
"In 50 years of doing a job I really love … there’s a campaign to get me fired. They sent me revolting things to the point where I phoned my management and said to my kids, ‘I can’t.’
"I cancelled everything last week after it. I just said, ‘I can’t do it, I don’t want to do it anymore.’ "
Coleen Nolan taking Loose Women hiatus
