UK Theatre Network

AS lead singer of The Nolans for thirteen years, Bernie Nolan travelled all over the world and enjoyed phenomenal success with her sisters. The group’s global record sales topped 25 million and earned them more than twenty gold, silver and platinum discs. After pursuing a successful solo career, Bernie is back with Linda, Coleen and Maureen on a sell-out UK Tour, which comes to The Metro Radio Arena on Friday. Ahead of the gig, she tells STEVE BURBRIDGE why she’s really in the mood for dancing.

THREE decades ago they rocked the nation. Their wholesome brand of pop preceded The Spice Girls, Bananarama and Girls Aloud, earning them a place in British chart history as one of the most successful girl groups ever and cementing their status as disco diva’s.

Now, thirty years after the release of their smash-hit, I’m In The Mood For Dancing, The Nolans have reunited and are touring the UK.

‘We’ve been asked a lot, over the years, to get back together,’ says Bernie. ‘But it just never seemed like the right time.’

‘When Universal approached us it was almost like fate – I’d just finished a job and Maureen had just finished a job. So, we all texted each other and said: ‘Let’s do it.’’

It’s twenty five years since the four sisters last performed on stage together, so the tour hasn’t come a moment too soon for their legions of fans.

‘The response we’ve had has been just amazing and completely overwhelming,’ admits Bernie. ‘We hoped there’d be a good reaction, but this is just phenomenal.’

When the group announced they were reforming and going on tour many of the sixteen dates sold out immediately and, due to public demand, a further nine were added. The story even made it onto News at Ten.

‘The public reaction has been a great endorsement,’ says Bernie. ‘And we’ll give them a bloody good time.’

Bernie describes the concert as ‘the ultimate girls’ night out.’ It boasts a mix of all their greatest hits, a selection of diva anthems from the 70s to the present day and some songs from their new album.

‘We’ve got seven male dancers, great dance routines, six costume changes, a fabulous band and a big set,’ explains Bernie. ‘So, it’s much bigger than anyone thought it was going to be.’

When the sister act originally hit the big time in the mid-seventies they were all still fairly young yet, unlike some of today’s pop stars, fame never sent any of them careering off the tracks and spiralling into self-destruction with drink or drugs.

‘I think that’s because we were a family working together and if ever one of us did start to get a bit ‘big-time’ it would be nipped in the bud by the others,’ Bernie reveals. ‘That’s one of the advantages of working with your sisters. Also, we’ve always put family first and showbiz second.’

Bernie originally left the band back in 1994 to pursue a solo career and achieved great acclaim as a musical actress in shows such as Flashdance, Our Benny and Oh, What A Night. She was also one of four Nolan sisters to play Mrs Johnstone in Blood Brothers, which earned them a place in The Guinness Book of Records as the most siblings to play the same role in the same show at different times.

‘Mrs Johnstone is a huge role and a difficult one,’ admits Bernie. ‘Blood Brothers is a marvellous show and I’ve never done it anywhere where the public haven’t loved it and given standing ovations every night.’

Her stage success spawned pivotal roles in two top-rated television shows, Brookside and The Bill. But, as her career flourished, her personal life was struck by tragedy. In 1998, she discovered she was pregnant but, five-and-a-half months into the pregnancy, her daughter, Kate, was stillborn due to a rare genetic disorder.

Bernie, in typical Nolan style, found the strength of character to carry on. She attributes that survival instinct to her late mother, Maureen.

‘My Mum was very strong and I don’t remember her having a day’s illness in all my lifetime,’ she explains. ‘She just got on with life – even when she was in labour with Linda she went to hospital on the bus. She was a real old fashioned Irish woman who would just get on with it and do it.’

Happily married to drummer Steve Doneathy, since 1996, and with a ten-year-old daughter, Erin, family life is the centre of Bernie’s world. So how does she feel about the very public rift that rages between her sisters, Coleen and Anne?

‘Obviously, it’s not something that you want to happen but these things do happen in big families a lot. It’s heartbreaking because we have always been very close as sisters. I pray that, at some point, they can resolve it.’

For now, though, the tour is at the forefront of Bernie’s mind.

‘I think the 70s and 80s were great times for everyone,’ she says. ‘And now, with the credit crunch and all, it’s quite a down time in the UK and we’re craving something to cheer us up. What better than music?’

So, does she have any personal favourites from their back catalogue of chart hits?

‘I love ‘Chemistry’ and ‘Who’s Gonna Rock You’ to be absolutely truthful,’ she says. ‘Most of our hits were written by the same guys – Ben Findon, Mike Myers and Robert Puzey – but ‘Who’s Gonna Rock You’ is a bit special because it was written by Billy Ocean.’

The four sisters being reunited on stage once more isn’t only a big deal for their fans, it’s a huge event for them, too.

‘It’s a brilliant time for us all and we’re having a great laugh. I’m trying to take it all in and enjoy it even more than I did the first time round.’

The Nolans are at The Metro Radio Arena on Friday, October 23, at 7.30pm. Tickets cost £35. To book, call 0844 493 6666.

I’m In The Mood Again Tour – The Nolans Live DVD is on sale from November 9.