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Coleen Nolan 'relieved' that Denise Welch announced split from Tim Healy

The former Loose Women star is glad things are finally ‘out in the open’ for her friend and has praised her brave decision to go public.

07 February 2012 07:56 GMT

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Coleen Nolan 'relieved' that Denise Welch announced split from Tim Healy

I'll be there for you: Coleen praises Denise's brave decision to announce marriage split on TV Pic: © Ken McKay Rex Features

Yesterday, Loose Women fans watched as Denise Welch broke down in tears live on television, as she announced that her 24 year marriage to Tim Healy was over.

Today, Denise’s close friend and former Loose Women colleague Coleen Nolan said she was ‘relieved’ that things are finally out in the open for the couple.

Writing in The Mirror, Coleen said: “Obviously we’re friends so I’ve known for a while that things haven’t been right. I’m relieved for both of them that it’s out in the open.

“At the centre of it all, they really are great friends. And after all this is out they’ll make even better parents because they can go on to be happy in their own separate personal lives.”

When Denise spoke of her relationship, she was keen to stress that she and Tim will remain friends and that they will continue to work together on numerous charity ventures they are involved in.

The 53 year old said: “I just hope you’ll support us next weekend we’re co-hosting our big ‘Sunday for Sammy’ and the following week we’re doing something else.”

The response to Denise’s announcement live on television has been mixed, but Coleen defended the decision, saying: “I know why people are so torn about the way Denise announced it on Loose Women. Some people think it was wrong to be so public, but it was really brave of her. Everyone we know thought it was the right decision.”

Denise stressed that she didn’t take the decision to announce the split lightly, but that her family felt it was the right time.

She said: “The kids love us very much and they wanted me to do this today because if you do it via a newspaper or magazine, then they can put it into their own words, but they’re sick of me being annihilated for something, I’m not having an affair, we’re officially separated but we do love each other very much so I just want to say thank you.”