Denise Van Outen - Biography

In a nutshell

Although not from a showbiz background (her Mum and Dad were a child carer and security guard respectively), Van Outen has developed into what we'd call a decent 'all rounder'.

Starting out at the Sylvia Young Theatre School, Denise acted in the usual crop of dramas and mid-budget TV shows. But however much you dress it up, these shows were never going to make her a real star.

That all changed, though, when she decided ? quite bizarrely ? to become a weather girl on the nation's then-favourite breakfast show, The Big Breakfast. Up and down she went, every morning, in the BB helicopter, reporting back on how the weather was looking, as well as how bad the traffic jams were.

The bosses loved her so much that she eventually started presenting the show alongside Johnny Vaughan and a double act from heaven was born.

But like we said, Den is a good all-rounder and has been performing in a number of stage shows, from Chicago to Rent.

Most recently she's been a judge on TV talents shows, 'I'd Do Anything' and 'Any Dream Will Do'. Never one to shy away from men, she ended up dating the winner of the show, Lee Mead, after her much publicised break-up from Jay Kay.

If you were a fan of Denise and Johnny on the TV, you'll be super-excited to know that they're reunited on the airwaves, presenting Capital Radio's breakfast show. But no, that didn't quite work out and Denise was out of there after only a few months.

In April 2009, She married 'Any Dream Will Do' winner Lea Mead. The couple had their first child together, Betsy in May 2010.

Did you know?

Denise was originally pencilled in to host the BBC's How Do You Solve A Problem Like Maria? ? she chose to concentrate on her career in America instead...