Coleen Nolan has revealed that a major TV host called her a "disgrace" for having a baby out of wedlock.
The 57 year old, who is mum to two sons with ex Shane Richie and daughter Ciara with ex Ray Fensome, opened up about her experience of being pregnant at 23.
It comes after the news that more babies were born out of marriage in England and Wales than to wedded couples for the first time on record. Only 48.7 percent of babies were born to legal couples, which is the first time it is below 50 percent since records first began in 1845.
Recalling when she was pregnant with Shane Jr at 23, she explained on Loose Women that she wasn't married and was initially fearful of her parents' reaction. However, her mum surprised her by saying that she was happy if she was happy.
Yet Coleen revealed that she was surprised by a newspaper article written by prominent Bullseye TV host Jim Bowen at the time. "This newspaper article came out and it was a double page spread," Coleen told panellists Christine Lampard, Denise Welch and Janet Street Porter. "With - wait for it - Jim Bowen!"
Stunned, Janet exclaimed "Jim Bowen?!" While Coleen continued: "He was very big at the time because Bullseye was massive. He came out saying that I was a bit of a disgrace and that I was a terrible example to girls of my age."
Denise demanded to know what it had to do with him, to which Coleen replied: "Well, I don't know. He definitely wasn't the father! Maybe that's what he was worried about, I don't know! But yeah! Even I went, 'Jim Bowen? Why does he care?!'"
Quizzed on whether it was hurtful, she said: "Yes, it was a bit! I was going, 'Oh, does everyone think that?' But equally, I think it was the start of that era where people weren't doing that. It wasn't a big deal to me at that point.
"I think what he was trying to say was 'This sister, this girl group who have come along who are all sweet and innocent - but that wasn't our doing, that was how the press portrayed us - and now I've 'let people down' by having sex outside of marriage."
*Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV
