Linda Nolan survived an horrific sex attack by paedophile monster Rolf Harris when she was touring as a teen popstar.
The singer, whose tragic death was announced today, revealed how she was ‘groped and licked’ by the predatory children’s entertainer when she was just 15.
Pervert Harris molested Linda in a backstage dressing room while she was on tour in South Africa with her sisters as part of the pop group the Nolans.
Disgraced TV star Harris – who had been a family favourite for decades before being convicted of a string of vile sex assaults in June 2014 – died in May 2023, aged 93.
Among the Australian-born TV presenter’s victims included an eight-year-old autograph hunter, two girls in their early teens and one of his daughter’s friends. He was jailed for five years for the assaults.
Opening up about her ordeal at the hands of the sex fiend following his conviction, Linda described how Harris pounced on her while she was in a dressing gown.
‘He suddenly came out of nowhere and in seconds his hands were all over me,’ she told The Sunday Mirror.
‘He came right up to me and got me in a huge bear hug. His arms were all over my back, right around me so his hands were touching the sides of my breasts.
Linda Nolan, whose death was announced today, previously revealed how she was molested by Rolf Harris when she was just 15
The attack against Linda took place in 1975 while she was touring with her sister in South Africa (Linda is pictured top with her sisters in 1975)
Rolf Harris (pictured before his death) was convicted of a string of indecent assaults in 2014. He died in May 2023, aged 93 – with his reputation in tatters
‘He rubbed up and down and started kissing and licking the back of my neck.’
‘I whispered to him, “Please don’t Rolf, please, please stop”. He did stop then, but looked at me like I was an idiot. He laughed it off and said, “Don’t be silly, I’m only giving you a hug”.’
Nolan said that once Harris eventually stopped his sexual advances, she was left feeling ‘dumbstruck’ and ‘humiliated’.
The Irish-born singer revealed her attack alongside Vanessa Feltz following Harris’s conviction in 2014.
Feltz said Harris groped her on live television in front of his wife, with the shameless sex pest tugging at her underwear during an interview on a breakfast show.
She said she only managed to stop him intimately assaulting her by calling out for an advertisement break.
Feltz, 62, had contacted Scotland Yard on the first day of his trial in 2014 hoping to testify against him, but his lawyers said the allegations came too late to investigate without derailing the case.
The attack happened in May 1996 on Channel 4’s The Big Breakfast, part of which involved a celebrity being interviewed on a bed.
Vanessa Feltz said she was groped by Harris during a live TV interview in front of his wife
Vanessa spoke out after Harris was convicted of a string of indecent assaults in 2014
Feltz said some of the make-up girls warned her that Harris was known in the business for his wandering hands but she did not believe them.
The presenter added: ‘As the interview continued, with his wife watching and with the crew all in the room, I suddenly felt a rustling at the hem of my dress.
‘I was on live television so I could not look down but I sensed that his hand was at the bottom of my dress and he was slowly gathering the fabric up and moving his hand higher and higher up my leg.’
She said Harris carried on smiling and joking as though nothing was happening.
‘Suddenly his hand had reached my knee and he was still going up and travelling at speed,’ she told the Sunday Express. ‘After a few seconds he had managed to get his hand inside the elastic of my knickers and I was absolutely staggered.
‘I had to do something but I was in the middle of an interview on live television with one of the most famous men in the country. I have not a shadow of a doubt that he knew exactly what he was doing and he was getting excited about it, doing what he was doing while he was on live television.
‘I realised that if I did not do something dramatic I would be literally a sitting target. I had no alternative but to cut to an advert break.
‘The second we went to the break I jumped away from him and got his hand out from under my dress. He didn’t react in any way at all. When we came back to the live interview he carried on as if nothing had happened.’
Linda died ‘peacefully’ on Wednesday morning following a 20-year battle with breast cancer. She was aged 65.
Linda’s death was revealed in a statement released by her agent Dermot McNamara, who revealed that she passed away on Wednesday morning following a battle with pneumonia
Linda rose to fame in the 1970s alongside her sisters Maureen, Coleen and Bernie as a member of the girlband The Nolan Sisters. The group are pictured performing in 1981
The singer’s death was revealed in a statement released by her agent Dermot McNamara, who said she died from double pneumonia amid her cancer fight.
Breaking the news today, Mr McNamara said: ‘It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Linda Nolan, the celebrated Irish pop legend, television personality, Guinness World Record holding West End star, Sunday Times bestselling author and Daily Mirror columnist.
‘As a member of The Nolans, one of the most successful girl groups of all time, Linda achieved global success; becoming the first Irish act to sell over a million records worldwide; touring the world and selling over 30 million records, with hits such as Gotta Pull Myself Together, Attention to Me and the iconic disco classic I’m In The Mood for Dancing.
‘Her distinctive voice and magnetic stage presence brought joy to fans around the world, securing her place as an icon of British and Irish entertainment.’
