Brenda Edwards opens up during an exclusive Notebook shoot about laughter, loss, the women that feel like family and finding love again
Brenda Edwards has been a staple on Loose Women since 2019, well-loved by viewers both for her bravery and honesty when discussing everything from her cancer battle and the heartbreaking losses she has suffered.
But she’s also known for her fun personality – wonderful singing, and her uncanny ability, as she tells us laughing, to have the rest of the Loose panel in stitches when something on the show happens to tickle her funny bone.
The former X Factor star, 56, currently lighting up the West End in Paddington: The Musical, opens up during a laughter-filled and glamorous shoot with Notebook to celebrate International Women’s Day about her Loose pals, how she’s dealt with heartache in life – and the mystery man making her smile again…
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Brenda, as women, do you think we still have battles to fight? Too many! But you have to keep battling and remain present and seen, which is something Loose Women is incredible at doing. I’ve been a part of the show since 2019, but I originally went on to talk about my stage 3 breast cancer diagnosis as I didn’t have any symptoms. It was about checking yourself.
You’ve shared so many powerful personal stories since then… I have, and it’s only slightly less nerve-wracking now, years on. There’s a lot of joy too. though. I’m there with my besties and I’ve got a big funny bone. I’m always the first to start laughing on set, then it sets everyone else off.
Like the time when I was dressed up as a witch with my broom, then I tripped and fell down the stairs. I’m the loud one. Coleen [Nolan] brings out the mischief in me. But I’ve realised I’m an introverted extrovert.
That’s surprising… I’m a shy person, but if I’m relaxed I’ll talk all day. I think that shyness comes from losing people at such a young age. But I do have key memories of my parents. Music we heard in the house is one, and a certain curry sauce smell which brings me right back.
Music and food are still the big passions in my life — they bring me out of myself. Singing on Loose Women with Anastacia was pretty amazing. We bonded over our breast cancer journeys. Music is a great healer for her, and it is for me too.
You’ve been through cancer and grief, but remain so positive… You can wallow in self-pity, but I don’t have time to do that — and I always remember, someone else is always worse off, who needs helping. Having Loose as a platform to tell my stories, and unfortunately I have many traumatic ones… it gives me comfort hearing others respond who are going through similar things, and thank me for sharing. If you keep things in, it hurts you. It can make you ill.
Who are the women who have lifted you up throughout your life? My aunties, my grandmother. My auntie Pam, MBE, who I look at as my mum, was a member of the RAF. They are very strong role models who raised me after my parents died when I was four.
Their motto is, “Pull yourself up, keep fighting” and that’s exactly how I live my life. It is hard. I don’t have my mother, and of course I lost my beautiful son Jamal. But my daughter is wonderful. I’m proud to be a mum and have two beautiful children. This is what being a woman is all about. You go through a lot, but you carry on.
You recently found love, didn’t you? There is a special someone, who I met just over a year ago. I believe he’s come at the right time, and I honestly believe my son sent him for me. There are so many similar things in his and Jamal’s way of thinking, which spooks both of us out.
The stars have aligned. Losing my baby is like walking around with this big gaping hole in my heart. But I’m happy to share some lovely experiences together with someone now — it’s a long time since I’ve been this happy.
Loose Women airs weekdays at 12.30pm on ITV1, ITVX, STV and STV Player
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