Linda Nolan's gin brand is a real tonic in lockdown

Linda, 61, who is living with incurable cancer, said with the pandemic having shut down showbusiness for months she wanted to do something positive and show that illness does not have to stop you from achieving an ambition.

The gin is called Hudson’s Passionfruit and Watermelon Gin, named for her late husband Brian and is produced by York distillery Sloemotion.

And it has raised Linda’s spirits for after going on sale on Monday morning, the whole batch sold out in 15 hours.

Linda said she had been nervous of her first foray into business but was delighted with the outcome.

She said: “I’ve always been partial to a gin and thought I should get a business other than singing - and because Covid has decimated showbusiness, it’s taken up some of the boredom of sitting around.

“It’s been pretty daunting putting myself out there with the release of the my spirits brand, Hudson’s, as it’s my first ever business venture.

This has put the biggest smile on my face and I’m so grateful to everyone who’s bought it. I’ve been working on some really cool follow up spirits, which I’m really excited to be releasing very soon.”

She said she chose the flavour as she was looking for something original.

It is a dry gin, distilled traditionally and blended perfectly with wonder-foods passionfruit and watermelon.

She said: “I wanted something fresh and fruity that hadn’t really been done yet!

“Creating the brand has been a joy and fascinating learning experience for me. I just wanted to prove to myself and to everyone else that being older or having an illness doesn’t have hold you back. My cancer might be a big thing in my life, but it’s not my entire life”

In 2020, Linda received the devastating news that her incurable secondary breast cancer had spread, within weeks after returning home from filming with her singing sisters for their hit TV series The Nolans Go Cruising.

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