Coleen Nolan has returned to Loose Women for the first time in almost four months following her row with Kim Woodburn.
Coleen, 53, stepped away from the public eye following a disastrous interview with Kim, which was set up by producers in the hope that the two women could bury the hatchet after falling out on Celebrity Big Brother last year.
But it didn’t quite go to plan and Kim ended up walking off set in tears and Coleen was branded a “bully” on social media, an allegation she vehemently denied.
Making her return to the daytime show on Monday, Coleen was given a standing ovation by the audience as they chanted her name.
Read more: Coleen Nolan confirms she’s not doing I’m A Celebrity
Getting rather emotional at the positive response, she said: “It was very nice, it nearly made me cry! It’s like coming home… it’s been great.”
Her fellow panellists Ruth Langsford, Janet Street Porter and Jane Moore were thrilled to have Coleen back on the panel.
It comes after Coleen announced her hiatus from the daytime show over the summer, as well as plans to postpone her solo tour that had been due to kick off in January following backlash from the Kim interview.
Her rep said at the time that Coleen was “not strong enough” to withstand the “constant” online trolling she’d received.
A statement from her rep read: “Following the constant online bullying, trolling and misrepresentation of her words and reactions, it is with sad regret that Coleen is taking an immediate hiatus form all her current commitments including Loose Women and postponing her Never Too Late solo concert tour.
“Coleen is devastated to let her supporters and fans down, but is currently not strong enough to withstand this constant unfounded online abuse, so she will be taking time out and spending it with her children and family where she feels loved and respected.”
An announcement from Coleen. (Tour Team x) pic.twitter.com/wi50RdMuws
— Coleen Nolan (@NolanColeen) 6 September 2018
Meanwhile, Kim told New! magazine at the time: “I don’t wish her any harm and I’m sorry she has no job on Loose Women. I can say hand on heart, I didn’t cause it and I hope, in time, she gets back on her feet.”
Coleen does, though, have a job on Loose Women as it was made very clear she’s just taking a break and would be returning when she’s ready.
Read more: Coleen Nolan reveals her warning to This Morning
Kim added: “I was asked to do Loose Women and I didn’t think it would turn out like it did – very hurtful. I was shocked as much as anybody else that it happened. I was told that it was a reconciliation on Coleen’s behalf. I don’t know if the producers didn’t tell her.”
More than 7,000 viewers complained about the Loose Women panel’s treatment of Kim during the interview, and Ofcom said at the time it was investigating whether the programme “fell short of generally accepted standards”.
A spokesperson for Loose Women said: “Kim agreed to come onto the panel today at the invitation of the producers on the understanding it was for a reconciliation with Coleen.
“Kim becoming upset was never the intention and the panel did endeavour to comfort her. She was offered counselling after the show, which she declined.”
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