From a singer in a girl band by way of panto, touring with Lily Savage and being Shane Ritchie's sister-in-law, Linda Nolan is now having the time of her life in Blood Brothers. She told Justin Dealey why?

Tell us a little about your part in Blood Brothers.

Linda Nolan in Blood Brothers

I'm playing Mrs Johnstone, a Liverpool mother of seven, who has no money but would sell her soul to the devil for her children.

When she falls pregnant with twins, she doesn't know how she's going to cope. Her husband leaves her and the Welfare are going to take the babies so she strikes up a deal with the lady she works for, who's very rich. They separate the twins but then her employer sacks her so she can never see the baby again.

It's a brilliant part. I get to play a whole roller coaster of emotions and there are some great songs to sing. I've been with the show for four years now.

Had you done anything like this before?

It's the first kind of serious stuff that I've done. I've done panto and I've toured with Lily Savage in Prisoner Cell Block H: The Musical. It was fabulous but I needed therapy at the end of it!

I was also in the West End production of Blood Brothers for two years and that was fabulous, but it's nice to get back out and do the tour because people know you're up and about and still working.

I've heard that you need to bring a box of Kleenex! Is it a real tearjerker?

The first half is really funny, then half way through the second half you wonder if it's the same show. It's very dramatic, it gets a standing ovation every night and they pay me. What more could you ask for?!

How does being in a musical compare with being a recording artist?

I absolutely love it. This side of the business compared to say, making records and doing cabaret is so different. You have to enjoy it and believe in what you're doing on stage or it shows. But I love it. It's a great company and when you're touring you do become like a little family because you're all away from home. Sadly though, I'm old enough to be most of the cast's mother in real life!

You've also toured with your real family of course, and had a huge hit with 'I'm in the Mood for Dancing'. Are you ever embarrassed by that song now?!

The Nolan Sisters in their hey day!

No - I'm proud of it. We never thought it was going to be a standard, but for what it was, it was a good pop song and now when I hear it I still get a buzz because it was such a big time for us. It was our first big hit in England and Number One in Japan for 13 weeks. We never professed it was a classic but it still fills the dance floor.

Have you ever been at a party and it's been put on?

Yes, but the worst is when it happens and you're on the dance floor! You can't walk off because people will either think you're ashamed of it or that you're too big time to dance to your own music. So I just jig about a bit! It just brings back great memories.

What was it like touring with your sisters? Did anyone ever get too big for their boots?

I think that because you are sisters you can remind each other not to believe everything you read about yourself. My older sister would say 'Now look - I changed your nappy so be careful'! With families you can keep yourself grounded.

You were amazingly successful weren't you?

In Japan we sold 8 million records in two years, more than the Beatles had at that time. It was fabulous but unbelievable. Our six week tour sold out in four hours. When we were over there we couldn't go out. We'd get mobbed by hundreds and had to have bodyguards. Looking back I wish I'd have enjoyed it more than I did at the time. Back then I just used to say 'But I just want to go to the shop!'

How did you deal with such quick success?

Again I think that we were fortunate that we were all there. Our mum and dad came out as well and Brian, who is now my husband, was our tour manager. You are surrounded by people who you know love you, the right people.

This tour lasts for another 18 months. Have you got any plans yet for after it finishes?

Linda Nolan

I'd love to do some more musicals and I love being part of a big company but I'd obviously love to get on TV and do a soap or something like Bernie. [Linda's sister Bernie plays Sheelagh Murphy in The Bill and was also in Brookside] It doesn't matter if you're working 365 days a year, if you're not on TV, people don't know.

What about EastEnders?

I could be Shane's sister-in-law! Typecast!

Of course! Shane Ritchie was married to your younger sister Coleen. What do you think of him?

He's great and he's a grafter and he deserves his success because he's worked hard for it. He was a great brother-in-law and a great dad - just a cr*p husband!

He and Coleen get on fine though - we all get on fine - and that's the way it should be.

Looking forward to Blood Brothers >>

Matthew Halligan, Leeds	Saturday, 28-May-2005 20:19:49 BST
I saw blood brothers last night at leeds grand theatre. What an excellent actress, im only 16 but i thought her part was great and she suited it perfectly. Please come back to Leeds again

Mike Melbourne, Bedford	Tuesday, 27-Jan-2004 17:02:56 GMT
I've seen Blood Brothers several times over the years and the emotion Linda puts into the songs has the tears rolling down the cheeks at the end of each show one thing I'm sure of is that ladies should wear water proof make up for this brillant musical.

Sam Rhodes, Holmer Green, Bucks	Friday, 14-Jan-2005 14:55:30 GMT
Saw Blood Brothers last night, linda was amazing!

Grantham gets hooked!