As a result of a media storm following a failed reconciliation between former Celebrity Big Brother contestants Coleen Nolan and Kim Woodburn, Coleen Nolan has announced that she will be taking a step back from the spotlight.

With immediate effect, she will no longer appear as a panellist on Loose Women and has postponed her Never Too Late solo tour.

A statement from her team read that she is taking an “immediate hiatus” after “online bullying and misrepresentation of her words”:

“Following the constant online bullying, trolling and misrepresentation of her words and reactions, it is with sad regret that Coleen is taking an immediate hiatus from all her current commitments including Loose Women and postponing her Never Too Late solo concert tour.

“Coleen is devastated to let her supporters and fans down, but is currently not strong enough to withstand this constant unfounded online abuse, so she will be taking time out and spending it with her children and family where she feels loved and respected.”

On today’s Loose Women, panel host Kaye Adams addressed the situation, saying: “Before we get started, as some of you may be aware Coleen is taking some time away from Loose Women.

“We all just want to send her our love and best wishes. Coleen is a brilliant Loose Woman and we really hope to see her back here very soon indeed.”

Last week, queer Twitter came out in force to defend Kim Woodburn after she stormed off Loose Women following the argument with Coleen Nolan.

“I’ll never forget what the likes of her and others put me through,” Woodburn said, alleging that she was bullied by seven people in the CBB house. “Never. It was bloody cruel.”

Following a slagging match in which fellow panellist Linda Nolan told Kim she had “no talent”, Woodburn who was visibly tearful said: “You think what you like. She’s a horrible person. She’s trash.”

Having had enough Kim walked off set.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNQ_25fHihk

After the show, Nolan and the panel show was met with huge backlash with many saying they bullied the 74 year-old woman.

A petition was created to remove Nolan from the show which has received over 25,000 signatures.

Coleen then appeared on This Morning to talk about the incident, telling Philip and Holly:

“I didn’t say anything! I said about two things in that interview because I know what she’s like, and she needs help, really. I feel terribly sorry for her, I’m not going to say anything about her.”

She went on to say to “apologise to anyone” and that “no one was more upset by the show than I was.”