THEIR days as eighties group The Nolan Sisters are long gone - and now in the dog-eat-dog world of showbiz the singing sisters find they are very much doing it for themselves.

The siblings tell me they often find they're up against each other for the meatiest roles - and as testament to that we can expect three of the lovely Nolans arriving in quick succession in shows in Manchester over the coming weeks.

Maureen stars in musical tribute show Stardust at Tameside Hippodrome tonight direct from Blood Brothers in the West End, while sister Linda is in the touring production of Blood Brothers which calls at Manchester's Opera House from Monday.

Then, just as Linda leaves town, Bernie arrives to star in Mum's The Word at the Palace Theatre from May 14.

When I caught up with the girls they told me that while they are all really supportive of one another - there's also a fair amount of sibling rivalry.

Linda says: "When it comes down to it, we are all in show business, and when it comes down to business, we don't tell each other what we're going up for, just in case someone thinks, ooh, I could go for that as well!

"But, of course, when we get the roles we're delighted for each other."

Maureen says: "We're all close in age so there are only certain roles out there. There's no horrible stuff going on behind each others back. We have to be businesslike about it, but there is friendly rivalry, shall we say, sometimes.

"We're quite realistic about it, and while we're all Nolans, we all know that Bernie has got the bigger profile.

"We know that if Bernie goes for a part she is likely to get it, on profile alone."

Supportive

Meanwhile Bernie says: "We're all very supportive of each other, we always have been. So I suppose it's a nice, healthy rivalry. It can be difficult when you're all in the same family and you all do the same job."

So, can the sisters, behind disco hit I'm In The Mood For Dancing, ever see a time when they would reunite?

"Never say never, I'd be totally up for it," says Linda. "But we'd have to find the time to do it, because we're all so busy. We still get together at parties and end up singing, seeing if we can remember the songs."

Maureen was a little more reticent, saying: "We were close to it at one point, but I think the quickest way to fall out would be to get back together again."

And, as for Bernie, well it sounds like a pretty definite no.

"I won't be getting back together," says the former star of The Bill. "I'm so happy on my own now. I was in the group for 21 years, but I've left, I'm on my own now and I've had such a good time, so I can't ever imagine going back into the group."

To read more about Linda Nolan, see Saturday's Weekend Go. Tweet