COLEEN My marriage is on the rocks
Agony aunt makes a heartbreaking personal confession
split and it set off alarm bells for me. She and Richie had been living separate lives and the same is true of Ray and me. We’d lost that connection.
“Ray is a private man and never does interviews or speaks publicly. But he’s aware I’m speaking out and agrees it’s not something that should be kept secret.
“I’ve had so many letters from people having relationship problems, which are brought into sharp focus at Christmas because it’s all geared around happy family time.
“I want people to know I’m going through it, too.”
As one of the Loose Women, Coleen wears her heart on her sleeve, but she says Ray is a closed book when it comes to emotions – which she finds hard.
However, the couple had a breakthrough earlier this month when they talked into the early hours. Coleen explained: “I asked if he was still in love with me and instantly he said, ‘ Yes.’ Then I asked if he still wanted to be married.
“He said he couldn’t think of anything worse than ending it. It was a huge relief.”
Coleen and Ray now plan a family Christmas with daughter Ciara, 15, and her sons from her first marriage, Shane jnr, 28 and Jake, 24.
She added: “We’ve been honest with them that we’re having problems, although we’ve never made it their problem, and they’re supporting us.
“Ciara has been amazingly mature and said, ‘Look, I just want you both to be happy – I’ll always love you no matter what because you’re my mum and dad.’ I’m determined to set a good example to her.”
As for the New Year, Coleen admits she doesn’t know what’s around the corner but she’s determined she won’t give up on their marriage without a fight.
She said: “In a lot of long- term relationships people are too quick to call it a day.
“But you don’t do that when your car breaks down. Before you declare it an old banger and swap it for a younger model, you try to fix it.
“When you still love each other, which we do, you have to fight to stay together and the majority of our marriage has been fantastic.”