Shane Nolan has explained his decision to change his surname from Richie to Nolan in 2017, stating that he grew tired of continuous comparisons to his famous father, EastEnders actor Shane Richie.
Nolan, 37, shared that the name change was a personal choice to establish his own identity. He recounted how, as "Richie Jr," auditions and professional interactions were often dominated by questions about his father's career rather than his own aspirations.
"Anytime I went for an audition, they'd speak to me about my dad," Nolan said, as quoted in notes from his mother Coleen Nolan's podcast. "It was like, what? What and they didn't ask about me?"
He added that the name change was a deliberate move to be recognized for his own merits. "I love being a Nolan," he stated.
This explanation comes as his father, Shane Richie, 62, has pleaded not guilty to drink-driving charges. The incident occurred when police were called to a petrol station where Richie reportedly argued with staff about vaping on the forecourt.
Video footage from the incident showed Richie holding a large vape and telling staff, "It's not smoking." When informed by staff that the vape posed a risk, he responded, "I don't give a f***." The petrol station manager called the police, describing Richie as "aggressive."
Richie was arrested and subsequently charged with drink-driving. His court appearance, under his real name Shane Roche, involved disputing the prosecution's evidence regarding his statements during the incident.
Shane Nolan has previously referenced his father's legal troubles in a humorous manner during his own stage show. During a performance with his mother, Coleen Nolan, he reportedly quipped about drinking and driving, advising the audience, "Don’t do it." He also joked about his own name change, suggesting he chose "Nolan" to align with the more famous parent at the time, referring to his mother's popularity.
Shane Richie and Coleen Nolan were married in 1990 and had two sons before divorcing in 1999. Nolan's decision to adopt his mother's surname appears to have coincided with Coleen Nolan's participation in Celebrity Big Brother in 2017.