Maureen Nolan issues 'tough' update on Linda's cancer battle as she hails special Merseyside bond

The singer spoke to the ECHO in an exclusive interview as she prepares to star in a Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs pantomime this festive season

Maureen Nolan has a special bond with Merseyside. The 70-year-old has been in the limelight for almost 50 years since she shot to stardom with her sisters as part of The Nolans.

The singer still enjoys her career in performing and is spending the festive season in Merseyside when she stars in a pantomime adaptation of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs at the St Helens Theatre Royal. The I'm In the Mood for Dancing singer is playing the Wicked Queen in the family entertainment show, performed from November 30 - January 12.

Maureen is joined in the show alongside Coronation Street star, Emrhys Cooper, and she told the ECHO in an exclusive interview that pantomime is the perfect way for families to unite at Christmas. She said: "It's often children's first experience of the theatre so it's very special and important in that way that they want to have fun and come back during their lives."

"I've never been a part of any panto that wasn't fun and there's no better place [for it than Merseyside]. It's fun in Merseyside always, but especially around Christmas."

Maureen said she always loves performing in front of a Merseyside crowd, and she explained what separates it from other audiences across the UK. She added: "They just let themselves go. Forget about their neighbours and what everyone else is thinking. They just enjoy themselves like no other county really.

"Liverpool is a fantastic city and the surroundings are as well. It's the people that make Merseyside." The singer has particularly fond memories of being on stage in Merseyside and said she was blown away by the late Bill Kenwright's offer to give her the role of Mrs Johnstone in the iconic production, Blood Brothers.

She told the ECHO: "Bill didn't always use you as Mrs Johnstone in Liverpool. I played it on the tour and he said, 'I'm going to use you in Liverpool'. To do Blood Brothers, a Liverpool show in Liverpool, that was a standout special."

However, Maureen said she isn't the only Nolan with a special connection to Merseyside as all her sisters felt a kinship with the region. She added: "Liverpool is the capital of Ireland really and we're all from Dublin so we're bound to have an affinity."

The late Bernie Nolan had a particularly strong association with the region from her time filming Brookside in the region. Bernie tragically died aged 52 in 2013 after a battle with breast cancer, a disease which has hit the family hard.

Linda Nolan is currently battling brain cancer and Maureen issued an update on her brave sister, who has refused to be beaten by the diagnosis. She said: "It's tough at the moment. She's still an inspiration, she gets out of bed. If we're doing something she will come with us.

"But it's getting more difficult obviously. But she's so strong and inspirational. She will come and see the panto for sure." Maureen enjoys a close bond with her sisters and is looking forward to spending Christmas Day as a family as she takes a well-earned rest from the pantomime in St Helens.

She added: "We always get together all of us and we'll have dinner at my sister's. There'll probably be about 20 of us. It's brilliant, we love it. My grandchildren have emigrated to America so they won't be there. That will be sad, but thank God for FaceTime."

Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs is at the St Helens Theatre Royal from November 30 - January 12. You can find further information on how to get tickets here.