Loose Women's Coleen Nolan shares reason behind heartbreaking split from Tinder boyfriend

Coleen Nolan is a single woman again after splitting from her Tinder boyfriend Michael Jones, and in this exclusive chat she shares the details of what happened

Loose Women's Coleen Nolan has been through more than one very public breakup and knows what she needs when it comes to recovering from the heartbreak. And after revealing the sad news that she's now a single woman after splitting from supermarket logistics manager Michael Jones, who she started dating in 2021, she's determined to come out stronger and happier.

Speaking to OK! for her first exclusive chat since the breakup, Coleen revealed what happened between the pair, and what she hopes for their future. "We’ve decided that we would rather just stay friends, take it as a friendship,” she said. Coleen and Michael got together for the first time three years ago after connecting on Tinder and Coleen said that despite the fact they're no longer together, he came along at the perfect time for her.

She continued, "I’m not going to say it wasn’t sad, because of course it was. But I really hope that once that sadness goes away we can continue to be friends. I don’t regret any of it, it was fabulous. Michael came along at just the right time for me and I think over the last three-and-a-half years we’ve helped each other grow."

While this isn't the first time the pair have separated - they broke up a few times early on in the relationship - it seems that a reconciliation is not on the cards. Coleen, 59, has just moved into her new Staffordshire farmhouse, which she was originally planned to , and it's a new home, new start.

She's become a real-life working farmer, taking care of no fewer than 30 animals when she's not traveling to and from Television Centre in London to film Loose Women. With all her new responsibilities, she also said she found it a struggle to fit a relationship into her already busy schedule.

"And, you know, it’s nothing to do with anyone else, it’s nobody’s fault," she shared. "But I’m really busy and when I’m not really busy with work I’m busy on the farm and I feel personally that I can’t give time to everything. We still get along great and hopefully we can continue to be friends, who knows?"

Coleen, who was once married to EastEnders star Shane Richie (and shares two sons with him) and musician Ray Fensome, dad to her daughter Ciara, says she thinks her experience of remaining on friendly terms with her exes gives her hope for her and Michael.

"I think that comes from age and experience," she said. "With it being my 60th next year I think, ‘I haven’t got time, life’s too short.’ I mean, I hope I have lots of time but I’m not 20 any more, I don’t want to wait for two years and see what happens."

On why she's able to stay so strong, Coleen added: "I always choose to focus on the times that were great, not the sad ending. The last two years of both my marriages were probably horrendous, but equally, the 10 years before were fantastic, so I’d rather focus on that."