Chuckle brother Paul Harman Elliott has paid emotional tribute to his friend Linda Nolan at her funeral.
The former eighties pop star died aged 65 of double pneumonia on January 15 and will be laid to rest at St Paul’s Church in her hometown of Blackpool on Saturday.
Paul, who performed in several pantomimes with Linda, gave a touching speech about his friend of 40 years outside the church.
The comedian, 77, said the ‘world will be a darker place without Linda’ and recalled their fondest memories, adding that ‘we used to enjoy our life’ together.
‘She was just a wonderful person. we always got on well,’ he said.
‘I last saw her in March, April time last year. Came over to see her in Stanley Park [in Blackpool] for lunch, our favourite place, a café in the park.’
Chuckle brother, Paul Harman Elliott, 77, has paid emotional tribute to his friend Linda Nolan at her funeral
He said the ‘world will be a darker place without Linda’
Paul went on: ‘She was just a fun, bubbly person. The world is a darker place without her.’
The TV star, one half of the famous double act The Chuckle Brothers, smiled as he recalled working on a show with her in the 1980s.
‘We had adjoining dressing rooms, Barry [Paul’s late brother] and I and Linda and Brian [Hudson, her late husband],’ he said.
‘We had the door open all the time with a table in between with drinks on it. We just used to enjoy our life. I still do… and shame that Linda can’t anymore.’
Paul – whose brother Brian died in 2018 – also praised the ‘absolutely massive turn out’ for Linda’s funeral, noting that more people would be arriving to pay their respects.
By invitation of the Nolan sisters, fans flocked to the church where Linda married her former manager and husband, Brian Hudson, in 1981 and later held his funeral in 2007.
Linda died at Blackpool Victoria Hospital earlier this month.
Paul, 77, said Linda was a ‘fun, bubbly person’ as he reflected on their friendship of 40 years
He arrived at St Paul’s Church in Linda’s hometown of Blackpool to pay his respects
The entertainer gave a smile as he arrived in a black suit
Linda was laid to rest in a glittery pink coffin as her loved ones gathered to say goodbye
She died from double pneumonia after entering into end-of-life care and then into a coma.
She was living with secondary breast cancer, which had spread to her hip, liver and brain, but cancer was not the cause of death.
The surviving sisters of the Irish eighties pop group, The Nolans – Maureen, 71, Anne, 74, Denise, 72, and Coleen, 59 – have raised £2,670 for Trinity Hospice.
Paul previously paid tribute to Linda on Instagram while sharing a photo of them together.
‘Just read the devastating news that our beautiful friend Linda Nolan has sadly passed,’ he wrote.
‘Sending love to family and friends at this very sad time… we have many memories of over 40 years and cherish them all.’
The singer tragically passed away on January 15 2024 aged 65 following a 20-year breast cancer battle and suffering from double pneumonia (pictured in 2020)
The order of service for the late star was seen held by mourners outside the church
Linda’s sister Coleen Nolan, 59, looked emotional as she attended the funeral
Mourners signed a book of condolence outside the church
He added on X that his ‘heart breaks’ that she died aged 65 but took comfort in the thought she was ‘now with the love of her life Brian’ Hudson, her husband of 26 years.
Brian died in 2007 after being diagnosed with skin cancer, and developing liver failure.
At Linda’s funeral, Loose Women star, Coleen Nolan’s son Shane Richie, 35, manned the door for his aunt while Linda’s older sister Denise, 72, will read the eulogy.
Shane, 60, who was married to Linda’s sister Coleen between 1990-1999, was one of the first to arrive to pay his respects, as he hid his eyes behind brown tinted shades.
A private service followed at a crematorium nearby, with Linda laid to rest with Brian’s ashes.
Coleen previously explained how they had decided on Linda’s final resting place, telling The Mirror: ‘My first thought after she died was to put Brian’s ashes with Linda’s.
‘So that’s what we’re doing. In life they were never apart, so I’m glad they’ll be together again.’
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