‘it’s only right i keep my son’s legacy going’

Brenda Edwards has had to deal with huge personal tragedy, but despite her heartache the Loose Womenpanellist is rarely seen on the ITV show without her winning smile.

It’s almost two years since she lost her son, influential music entrepreneur Jamal, who passed away at the age of 31, and almost nine years since her shock diagnosis with breast cancer. Thankfully, she got the all-clear in 2016, after six months of chemotherapy and a mastectomy.

And although Brenda tells us that she has had to “smile in the face of adversity” since she was little, the 54-year-old singer and presenter tells us how great she’s feeling at the moment.

Here, the busy Luton-born star spills the beans about her Loose Womencolleagues, talks about the rumours she could be the latest of her pals to sign up for Strictly and tells us why she’s not seeing anyone special right now.

Hi, Brenda. How are things? You sadly lost your son, Jamal, almost two years ago…

I’m just trying to keep on with his legacy, like he’d want me to.

You have managed to draw something so positive from such a tragic loss…

Well, Jamal inspired a lot of people. I think that’s what it was – he inspired people, he gave opportunities to people. So, it’s only right that I keep my son’s legacy and memory going, as much as I can. I’ll always do as much as I can to help young men, the homeless, young people. The battle is never ending. I’m trying to be as proactive as I can be.

You are a beacon of light on Loose Women. Where do you get your positivity from?

It’s called smiling in the face of adversity, which I’ve had to do a lot of from the very early age of four, so you kind of get used to just dealing with whatever cards life deals you. You can either let it affect you, or you can rise. You can try and turn the negative into a positive. That’s what I try to do, as much as I can. The way that I deal with my grief is probably different to other people, but it’s how I deal with it. I’m just about getting through.

That’s very inspiring. You and Coleen Nolan are very good friends. How’s she coping now that her daughter Ciara has left home?

She wasn’t coping well, she was upset because she’s got a very close family. I know how close they are – they do everything together. But Coleen is busy getting ready for