Showbiz world mourns the loss of Diane Langton and Linda Nolan

Actress Diane passed away aged 77 while singer Linda died at the age of 65…

Diane Langton has died aged 77, the performer has most recently been seen in E4’s teen-aimed soap Hollyoaks as Nana McQueen, returning to the show for what is now her final stint in December 2024.

Diane began her career as a teenager, first as a dancer, then becoming an actress and singer. Her first ‘big role’ was an uncredited appearance as one of the schoolgirls in the comedy movie Carry On Teacher in 1959. In the theatre her professional performances took off in 1968 with an appearance in Hair. Other memorable West End roles included in productions including A Chorus Line, Pippin, I’m Getting My Act Together, A Little Night Music, Billy Elliot, Chicago, and Mary Poppins.

On television there were starring roles and regular character parts over the years with her best-known success prior to Hollyoaks being in the LWT revival of The Rag Trade in the 1970s. Diane was regularly on television, popping up on programmes such as BBC sitcom Only Fools and Horses, soap operas Doctors and EastEnders (As Cindy Beale’s mother) and dramas such as Boon, Heartbeat, The Bill and Holby City.

Diane Langton in The Rag Trade / LWT

Diane Langton in Hollyoaks as Nana McQueen / Lime Pictures

Comedy saw her pop up on ATV’s telly version of the Carry On’s in Carry on Laughing, BBC sketch series The Les Dennis Laughter Show and Tonight at 8.30. There were an abundance of appearances in saucy movies across the 70s including in Carry On England, A Dirty Knights Work, Confessions of a Pop Performer, It’s not the Size that Counts and Don’t Just Lie There, Say Something. There was also a big screen appearance in the movie adaption of Steptoe and Son in Steptoe and Son Ride Again

In 1978 she was part of ATV’s Golden Gala which showcased the talents of 100 women, hosted by Noele Gordon with Langton performing a sketch as part of a Reg Trade skit. In 1982, she appeared on the Royal Variety Performance, performing a number from Show Boat.

As Nana McQueen in Hollyoaks she found herself a whole new audience. Initially appearing from 2007 to 2009, she has had regular stints in the Cheshire set saga in recent years from 2012 onwards. She last returned to the E4 series in December 2024.

Diane Langton was born on May 31, 1947 in Somerset. In a statement today her agent noted “I am sad to say that Diane Langton passed away this morning.” No other details were provided.

Elaine Paige paid tribute: “In total shock at Diane Langton‘s passing. Memories of us in Hair flooding back. Her in the dressing room with a bottle of brown ale! We also recorded an LP ‘Sparrow.’ She was a unique, talented artist. A funny, kind and special friend. My thoughts with husband Derek.” 

Diane Langton and Linda Nolan appear together on BBC One quiz, The Weakest Link alongside host Anne Robinson and other contestants, Mark Little, Ramon Tikaram, Lynda Baron, Sheila Ferguson, Tim Rice, Nigel Planer and Adam Long.

Singer and television personality Linda Nolan lost her long fight to beat cancer today aged 65.

Linda, along with her sisters, became part of the UK pop scene in 1974 and went on to have international chart hits as well as three top ten singles in the UK Top 40. The group led by the late Bernie, charted with tracks such as I’m In the Mood for Dancing, Attention to Me and Spirit, Body and Soul.

After moving with her family to Blackpool at the age of three in 1962 she and her sisters performed at hotels at the resort entertaining holidaymakers. Along with her sisters Anne, Denise, Maureen, Bernie and later Coleen they became The Nolan Sisters, later just The Nolans. As a member of the original ‘girl power’ group, Linda toured with Frank Sinatra in 1975, won the Tokyo Music Festival in 1981, and had seven UK top 20 hits in total. There were appearances on all the main music shows of the day from Top of the Pops to The Val Doonican Show. In the early 80s the Nolan’s also had their own primetime BBC One series.

In the late 1980s Linda also hosted her own music series for BBC One, Linda Nolan and Friends, and became a regular telly personality with appearances on shows such as ATV’s Tiswas, BBC’s Pop Quiz and Blankety Blank. In more recent times she became a semi-regular on ITV’s Loose Women chat show alongside her sister Coleen and featured as a participant of Celebrity Big Brother.

After The Nolans originally spilt, Linda – as well as regular TV appearances – also forged a successful career as an actress. This including an eight-season residency at Maggie May’s on Blackpool’s Central Pier, where she appeared in over 1,000 performances, followed by two seasons with Rosie O’Grady’s on Blackpool’s South Pier. There was a tour with American singer Gene Pitney and several reunions with The Nolans.

In the 1990s she starred as the prison governor in two UK tours of Prisoner: Cell Block H – The Musical, alongside Paul O’Grady and had a successful run in the musical Blood Brothers.

Linda Nolan and Friends / BBC

Linda Nolan appears on Celebrity Big Brother / Ch5

Linda Nolan was born Holles Street Hospital in Dublin, Ireland, as the sixth of eight children to Tommy and Maureen Nolan. But there has been ill health in the family with sister Bernie passing away aged just 52 in 2013. Bernadette had forged her own successful career as an actress on stage and television following the end of The Nolans with memorable appearances in Channel 4 soap Brookside and Thames Television’s crime serial The Bill.

Twenty years ago Linda was diagnosed with breast cancer. As part of her treatment, she underwent a single mastectomy in 2006.  In 2007, she was diagnosed with cellulitis and lymphedema in her arm however by 2011 she was given a ‘cancer-free’ thumbs up from her medical team.

Sadly, it wasn’t to last and in 2017 Nolan fell on her hip and was taken to hospital – where doctors discovered a form of incurable secondary breast cancer on her pelvis. She commenced regular radiotherapy treatment to prevent the cancer from spreading, stated she would refuse chemotherapy if the cancer was deemed terminal, having witnessed sister Bernie having to endure such procedures in the past.

In 2020 Linda stated that the cancer had spread to her liver. On 27 March 2023, she stated that the cancer had now metastasised to her brain, with a tumour discovered on the left side of her brain, resulting in balance loss on her right side, which has led to her using a wheelchair. She was prescribed the experimental drug Tucatinib to treat her brain cancer followed by Enhertu.

Linda was admitted into Blackpool Victoria with double pneumonia at the start of this month. She recently fell into coma and died earlier today.