Coleen and Ray reunited! Back together as a family unit
Five months on since they filed for divorce, it looks as though Coleen and Ray have been busy rebuilding their relationship…
After years of speaking openly about her marriage woes on Loose Women, it came as no surprise when Coleen Nolan revealed her 11-year-marriage to Ray Fensome was over in February.
But five months on, it seems as though things are going great between the exes, with Coleen even revealing Ray stays over at her house and that they often enjoy nights out with their 17-year-old daughter, Ciara.
‘They are back together as a family unit much of the time and they both seem very happy with that,’ a source close to the couple reveals to Woman’s Own.
Happy families
Coleen has opened up about the progression of her and Ray’s relationship since filing for divorce, with the 53-yearold revealing, ‘It’s how it always was.’ ‘It was difficult to begin with, but it’s so much better now we are talking. He stays over, we’ll watch TV together and go out for dinner with our daughter, Ciara,’ Coleen confessed. She added, ‘It’s how it always was but with the physical side – and all the expectation of that – taken away, which makes it a lot better.’ After 11 years of marriage, starting life as a single woman is bound to have its ups and downs for Coleen. And she has been courageously open when it comes to her concerns about being alone at her age. ‘The thing with divorce is, I think a lot of people, especially if it happens later in life, like in my case, in my 50s, obviously being lonely is a big fear for anyone,’ she revealed. But with Ray, 60, back by her side as they co-parent their
‘They are back together as a family unit’
daughter, it seems as though Coleen couldn’t be happier with her situation at the moment, as we understand she’s ‘comfortable’ with things just as they are.
Craving a bit of romance
‘Coleen has been very unhappy being single – she feels lonely and has made no secret of wanting to find someone after Ray,’ our source tells us.
‘The fact that they are getting on better than ever again is a good thing and has, in a way, filled that void for her. It’s comfortable for her.’
Even though the couple are getting on better than ever, it’s clear that Coleen is
desperate for a bit of romantic male attention, with the panellist recently joking, ‘I want all my bits touched.’
But despite her desire for romance, she’s still cautious about the idea of putting herself back out there.
‘I would be nervous doing online [dating] because you read so much about people not being who they say they are,’ she confessed.
Which is why having Ray back by her side seems to be the perfect distraction and comfort for the star.
‘Starting a new relationship is exciting but it is also nerve-racking and having Ray around and them getting along together is working really well for her,’ our source continues. It’s clear that despite their frequent spats over the years, the breakdown of their marriage took its toll on both Coleen and Ray, with the Loose Women panellist recently admitting that she felt ‘depressed’ when her and Ray finally called it quits.
‘The end of a relationship is like grief. You have to give yourself time to mourn. I used to wake up at 3am and feel so depressed and not want to bother people,’ she explained.
And, while Coleen was mourning her marriage, Ray was furious at her for starting the legal proceedings. She recalled, ‘Initially, Ray was angry with me for wanting a divorce but we were communicating only through lawyers. I didn’t understand why Ray was so angry.’
‘You have to give yourself time to mourn’
Old-fashioned
‘Now I realise he’s old-fashioned and believes marriage is forever. I think he was also frightened he would be left with nothing as I was the main breadwinner so I had to reassure him I wouldn’t do that, which helped.’
But, with the couple getting on like a house on fire, and their family unit back together again, it’s clear that the past is well and truly behind them and that Coleen couldn’t be happier right now!