Linda Nolan's family is set to give her a showbiz send-off she truly deserves, with all the glitz and glamour that defined her remarkable life. The beloved entertainer, who lived her life with gusto, wanted her final goodbye to be just as vibrant and spirited - culminating in one last show-stopping moment of applause. In line with her wishes, Linda's siblings have extended an open invitation for fans to gather outside the church to bid her farewell following her funeral service on Saturday, marking it as her ultimate curtain call.

The church is located within a residential area, a seven minute car ride from Central Pier on Blackpool's promenade. There are also plans in place for those too far from Blackpool to attend. A family spokesperson told The Mirror: "The Nolan family invites everyone to join them in celebrating the extraordinary life of Linda Nolan. Linda was a beacon of light, strength and unwavering love who inspired everyone she met, in addition to millions around the world.".

"Her absence leaves an ache in our hearts, but her legacy will live on through the joy, hope and kindness she shared so freely. Everyone who knew Linda, or whose lives she touched, is welcome to come and pay their respects as we remember her remarkable life. The family welcome all public and fans who can gather outside the church, where there will be designated spots.". The Daily Mirror columnist lost her battle with double pneumonia on January 15, just weeks away from what would have been her 66th birthday and two decades since her initial cancer diagnosis.

She had previously shared her desire for a "pink, sparkly coffin" - a wish her family have fulfilled. Her sister Coleen, 59, told us: "The one thing my sister loved was bling - her trainers had bling on them, her handbags, her walking stick [..] so it feels right.". Now, Coleen and the remaining Nolan siblings, Anne, 74, Denise, 72, Maureen, 70, Tommy, 75, and Brian, 69, are committed to making Linda's final farewell as lively, sparkly and vibrant as she was - and they're inviting fans to contribute.

Linda's funeral will be held on Saturday in her "spiritual home" of Blackpool - the town where the Dublin-born Nolan sisters first rose to fame and have spent much of their lives. The day will commence at 10.30am tomorrow with a service for family and friends at St. Paul's Church. This church held a special meaning for Linda, who married her husband Brian Hudson here and later held his funeral following his death from liver failure at just 60 in 2007.

The family is then hoping that fans and well-wishers will assemble outside the church to give Linda one last standing ovation as the siblings leave for a private service at a nearby crematorium. Linda will then be laid to rest alongside Brian's ashes - which she had kept at her home in Blackpool for the past 18 years. "St. Paul's Church holds a deeply special place in Linda's heart," shared her manager and close friend of years, Dermot McNamara. He detailed how it was the very church where she tied the knot with her beloved Brian, marking the start of their blissful 26-year marriage. "It is where she married the love of her life, Brian, with whom she shared 26 wonderful years of marriage. Brian was Linda's rock, her soulmate, and the love of her life, just as she was his.".

The tale of devotion continues as Dermot added: "When Brian tragically passed away in 2007, Linda found the strength to carry on, but her love for him never wavered. St. Paul's was also where Linda said her final goodbye to Brian, holding his funeral in the same church where they had exchanged their vows. Now, Linda will return to this sacred place to be reunited with Brian once more, finally at peace and back in his loving embrace.".

For fans who can't journey to Blackpool, there's a touching alternative: a memorial page has been created at linda-nolan. muchloved.com. Here, admirers have the chance to pen messages of support or share memories of the so-called 'Naughty Nolan'. The page also offers an option to donate to Trinity Hospice in Blackpool, a gesture that rings true with Linda's lifelong commitment to charity, having raised an astonishing £20million for breast cancer and mental health causes.

Echoing her selfless nature, the family told The Mirror: "In honour of Linda's compassionate and giving spirit, the family wishes to raise as much money as possible for Trinity Hospice, a charity that held a special place in Linda's heart. Trinity Hospice provided exceptional care not only to Linda in her final days but also to her sister Bernie during her own battle. Their team treated Linda and Bernie with unparalleled kindness, dignity and respect, for which the family will always be profoundly grateful.".

Linda was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005 and enjoyed a few years of being cancer-free before secondary breast cancer was found in her hip in 2017. The disease spread to her liver in 2020, and by 2023, it had invaded her brain. Her sister Bernie also battled secondary breast cancer in the brain and in 2013, sadly passed away at the age of 52. Hundreds of people filled the streets of Blackpool for Bernie's funeral, all eager to honour The Nolans.