Viv Hardwick looks at the long-awaited Nolans’ reunion tour, now destined for the Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle.

THE Metro Radio Arena, Newcastle, has nipped in to take a potential sell-out appearance by The Nolans after negotiations between the singing sisters act and Newcastle City Hall, over its October and November tour, ran into difficulties.

Yesterday, Kathryn Platt of Media Ambitions, who is handling the press and publicity for the tour, announced that tickets for the Friday, October 23, North-East show will be going on sale on Tuesday.

On Thursday, the City Hall revealed that no date has been arranged after negotiations stalled. Coleen Nolan’s TV appearances on ITV’s Loose Women meant that the original booking had to be changed. Efforts to sign up the much-publicised first tour in 25 years then ran into problems. City hall boss Peter Brennan says: “There are enough gaps in the tour for us to make another booking and we have dates available, but I can’t reach an agreement. It may be that the girls wanted to test the water with a few dates this year and will be doing a larger tour next year.”

With 16 medium-scale UK venues set to put up sold out signs already, it isn’t too surprising to discover that the thousands of extra seats in the arena, compared to 2,000 at City Hall, have tempted the promoters.

Smash hit from 1979, I’m In The Mood For Dancing, is the theme tune of the return to the road of Coleen, 44, Bernie, 48, Linda, 50, and Maureen, 55.

The line-up also highlights an on-going family rift because there’s no place on the tour for older sisters Anne, 58, and Denise, 57.

Coleen, who was contacted first about the tour, explains: “We’ve been approached before over the last four or five years but it has never felt like the right time and the right people being involved, and this time it was like ‘let’s just do it once more’.” Denise says on her website: “Now there’s one little thing that has been on many people’s lips. The family rift that has been in the papers and internet. Yes there has been a family upset and I have always kept silent about this.

“Coleen has decided to name myself and Anne and to give her version of events. I believe she has mentioned it in her book. I don’t want to get into a public slanging match. I love ALL my sisters. I hope that one day we will all make up. The argument is distressing and I hate to see a family torn apart.

As far as the Nolans reunion is concerned that, too, I have no comment on – so don’t ask me! People have to do what they have to do and the upset is on their own shoulders.”

■ See Thursday’s 7DAYS for an interview with Coleen Nolan