Bradley Walsh and the late Bernie Nolan once shared a seemingly perfect romance that lasted three years — but behind the smiles was a painful ending neither expected.
Back in 1989, the pair were introduced through Bernie’s younger sister, Coleen Nolan, who was dating Shane Richie at the time. A chance meeting at one of Bradley’s shows quickly turned into something more.
“They took me to see him perform. Afterwards, we chatted for the first time,” Bernie told The Mirror in a 2011 interview.
“It was a bit awkward because I already knew he fancied me — but in a sweet way. From that evening, we were together.”
Their relationship blossomed with romantic getaways, including picnics in the Lake District, and Bernie recalled that everything felt wonderful — as long as it was just the two of them.
So what went wrong?
Despite the picture-perfect romance, cracks began to show when Bernie discovered Bradley had been unfaithful — not just once, but on more than one occasion.
She confronted him, and while he was “full of remorse and apologies,” she admitted:
What could I do? I loved him too. So we got back together.”
But that second chance didn’t last.
A friend of Bernie’s later spotted Bradley with another woman at dinner — and that was the final straw. Bernie, who had already been dreaming of wedding dresses with her mother, was devastated.
“Each time I’d tried to trust him again, I ended up feeling like a fool,” she said.
Bernie was scheduled to visit him that weekend, but instead, she picked up the phone and ended it for good.
Reflecting on it years later, she admitted:
“When I think about it now, I feel like I had a lucky escape.”
Bradley later sent her a letter hoping they could still be friends — but she responded with a heartbreaking message:
“I didn’t want to be your mate. I wanted to be your wife.”Life After Heartbreak
Bernie went on to marry drummer Steve Doneathy, and the couple shared many happy years together before Bernie sadly passed away in 2013 following a brave three-year battle with breast cancer.
As for Bradley, he found lasting love with wife Donna, whom he married in 1997. The couple remain happily married and share a son, Barney. Bradley also has a daughter, Hayley, from a previous relationship with Debby Parker.
The Chase host has spoken fondly of Donna in the past, telling the Express:
“I wouldn’t swap my missus for the world. She’s not just beautiful — she’s the most fantastic wife and mother.”
He also credited her for encouraging him to accept his role on Coronation Street, a move that helped define his TV career — even though it meant time apart.
Bradley Walsh appears on The Chase Celebrity this weekend — Sunday, July 20, at 5:35pm on ITV1.
