Coleen Nolan opens up about trying out the dating scene: 'Life doesn't have to end in your 50s'

Coleen Nolan announced her separation from her husband Ray Fensome last year, and revealed on ITV's Lorraine that only now is she starting to consider dating again.

Speaking to the TV host on today's morning show, the 54-year-old admitted that while she's not terrified of getting back out there, she's not exactly looking forward to it.

She confessed, “It doesn’t fill me with horror but... it turns me into a 12 year old again. I don’t know how to do it!”

So far, Coleen hasn't revealed if there is any special man in her life, but it looks as though she's definitely open to the idea.

The Loose Women star revealed that since her divorce, she has begun to challenge herself a bit more - especially now that her three children are all grown up.

She told Lorraine, “I am challenging myself. Also, because I have gone through that stage when my kids are grown up now, they don’t need me a little bit. You feel a bit redundant. I think the easiest thing to do is sit there and say, ‘that’s me done’.

"I want to go, ‘it’s not me done.’ I can do more because I don’t have that ‘mum guilt’ of leaving my kids."

Coleen went on to share some exciting news to, revealing that she's set to take herself out of her comfort zone by starring in a production of the theatre show The Thunder Girls, as the character of Anita.

She admitted that while she was nervous about taking on the new role, she was determined to do it, to prove that 'life doesn't have to end in your 50s'.

Loose Women host Coleen said, "I’ve always been slightly nervous about it, as it’s something my sisters have always done and are so good at, and I might be the letdown.”

“And there was a part of me that thought, ‘I’m 54, do I want to be putting myself through this now?’

"But then I thought that’s exactly why I should be! It’s really made me think that life doesn’t have to end in your 50s.”

Here here!

Coleen also revealed to Lorraine that although she hasn't re-invented her look physically since her split from her ex-husband, she has brought home a whole host of pets to keep her company.

“At the moment, the only thing I’ve done - I haven’t changed my hair, I certainly haven’t lost weight - but I just keep buying animals. I literally have a very small zoo. I have 12 animals now!"