Star of Brookside, Bernie Nolan, dies of cancer at 52

Celebrities took to Twitter and paid tribute to the “courageous” Bernie Nolan.

By Nicole Hamer |

12:00 05 July 2013

Bernie Nolan, the lead singer of The Nolans and star of Brookside, has died on Thursday after she lost her three-year battle

with cancer. She was 52. The singer and actress was first diagnosed with the disease back in 2010.

A spokesman for the family confirmed that news by saying: 'Bernie passed away peacefully this morning with all of her family around her.

'The entire family are devastated to have lost beloved Bernie, a wonderful wife, adoring mother and loving sister, she is irreplaceable. They kindly ask people to respect their privacy at this difficult time.'

Bernie was able to beat cancer in 2010 however, the disease came back in October 2012 and later on, spread to her bones, lungs, liver, and brain. She was being cared for in a hospice but has returned home for her last days to be with her family.

Despite being told that her cancer was incurable, Bernie remained defiant. She said at that time: 'OK, it’s not curable. But the doctors have ¬promised me the cancer is treatable, it’s ¬containable. I’m on medication which is ¬controlling it, and people have lived for 12 years on these drugs. Who knows what new treatments are around the corner?

'I refuse to sit around like I’ve got a death sentence hanging over my head. I’m going to fight this for ever. It can get stuffed.'