The Nolans to reunite in honour of Linda for cancer charity gig

PA Media A black and white photo of the five smiling Nolan sisters in 1978 as they arrive at a record shop to sign copies for fansPA Media

The original line-up of the band featured five sisters after they were formed in Blackpool in 1974, before younger Coleen joined later

The Nolans are to reunite for a concert to raise money for a cancer charity in their first performance since their sister Linda died after suffering from the disease.

Denise, Maureen and Anne will take to the stage at Sheffield City Hall on 4 October.

Loose Women and Celebrity Big Brother star Linda, who long campaigned for awareness of breast cancer, died aged 65 in January after being admitted to Blackpool Victoria Hospital with double pneumonia.

The pop group will perform some of their best known hits including disco classic I’m In The Mood For Dancing and Gotta Pull Myself Together.

The group, originally called the Nolan Sisters, rose to fame in the late 1970s and early 80s, as Linda sang with sisters Denise, Bernie, Maureen and Anne.

Younger sister Coleen started singing with the group aged nine in 1974 but did not officially join until 1980 when she was 15. She did, however, appear in the music video for I’m in the Mood for Dancing.

The band became one of the world’s best selling girl groups with a string of hits.

Linda was first diagnosed in 2005 and then given the all-clear in 2011, but in 2017 was diagnosed with secondary breast cancer.

Bernie died of breast cancer in 2013 aged 52.

PA Media Linda Nolan, wearing a black dress and on crutches, with her sister Coleen, who had on a drak blue dress, at a TV awards do at The Dorchester Hotel in London in 2017.PA Media

Linda Nolan, on the left, with her sister Coleen at an TV awards in 2017

The three sisters will also perform Tell Me It’s Not True from the musical Blood Brothers.

Maureen, Denise, Bernie and Linda all once appeared in the show in London’s West End, earning them a Guinness World Record.

‘Powerful moment’

Anne said: “This will be my first time performing Tell Me It’s Not True, which makes it incredibly emotional for me.

“To sing it with Denise and Maureen and to know that Bernie and Linda once performed it too will be such a powerful moment for us as sisters.”

Denise, who left the group before the 1979 release of their best known hit, said: “I’ve never sung I’m In The Mood For Dancing before, so to finally perform it alongside my sisters and for such a meaningful reason feels very special.

“Cancer has touched our family in the most devastating way, so being able to use our voices to raise money for others going through it means the world to us.”

The concert, which will also feature actors Layton Williams and Hayley Tamaddon, as well as Strictly Come Dancing professional dancer Janette Manrara, will raise money for BB With Love and Weston Park Cancer Charity.

It is organised by the family of Bev Croke, who died from cancer. Her son and The Voice UK star Matthew Croke will co-produce it.

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