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Denise van Outen

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Denise van Outen
Van Outen in 2007
Born
Denise Kathleen Outen

(1974-05-27) 27 May 1974 (age 50)
Basildon, Essex, England
Occupations
  • Actress
  • singer
  • dancer
  • presenter
Years active1986–present
Television
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2009; div. 2015)​
Partner(s)Jay Kay (1998–2001),
Eddie Boxshall (2014–2022)
Children1

Denise van Outen (born Denise Kathleen Outen; 27 May 1974)[1] is an English actress, singer, dancer and presenter. She presented The Big Breakfast, played Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago both in the West End and on Broadway and finished as runner-up in the tenth series of the BBC One dancing show Strictly Come Dancing.

She was a judge on Any Dream Will Do in 2007, Born to Shine in 2011, and Ireland's Got Talent which ran for two seasons (2018–2019). Van Outen also narrates the ITVBe reality television series The Only Way Is Essex.

Early life

Born Denise Kathleen Outen in Basildon, Essex, England,[2] she has a brother Terry[citation needed] and sister Jackie.[citation needed] She claims that her ancestors "are all Dutch", which was the reason she added "van" into her name.[3][4][5] At the age of seven, she began modelling for knitting patterns,[4] and showed an early flair for performing. This resulted in her attending the Sylvia Young Theatre School.[6]

In 1986, she played the young Éponine in Les Misérables[7] (the role paid her school fees[8]), the Anthony Newley-directed production of Stop the World - I Want to Get Off, and A Midsummer Night's Dream with the Royal Shakespeare Company.[4]

Career

Early career

As a teenager, van Outen had brief roles on a number of television dramas; these included Kappatoo[9] and The Bill.[10] In 1992, she appeared in a Drinking and Driving Wrecks Lives commercial.[11] She also performed backing vocals with Melanie Blatt for the band Dreadzone.[7] In the mid 1990s, she sang with former video game soundtrack singer Cathy Warwick in a 'girl group' called Those2Girls, by which time she had become Denise van Outen. Those2Girls were signed to BMG's Final Vinyl record label and had a minor Top 40 hit in 1995, called "All I Want".[12] Van Outen was voted Rear of the Year in 1999, and was top of a poll to find the most desired "bikini body" in a 2007 poll of readers of Grazia magazine.[13]

Acting

During her first stint on The Big Breakfast show, she appeared as Jill in ITV1's version of the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk[14] alongside Julie Walters and Neil Morrissey. Wanting to further develop her acting career, she left The Big Breakfast at the end of 1998. In 1999, she appeared on several episodes of The Bill and The Young Person's Guide To Becoming A Rock Star, the BBC's Murder in Mind short series of crime dramas,[15] and on 2 series of Babes in the Wood with Karl Howman and Samantha Janus.[14]

Van Outen has also appeared in film, initially as Maureen in the crime comedy Love, Honour and Obey. In the anthology film Tube Tales, set on the London Underground, she played the lead character of Alex in the "Horny" segment, directed by Stephen Hopkins.[16] Van Outen has played a small role in the romantic comedy Are You Ready For Love?

She first played Roxie Hart on the stage in the hit musical Chicago at the Adelphi Theatre in the West End in April 2001.[17] Her run proved a hit with theatre-goers, selling out for the entire 20 weeks. Unknown in the United States, she reprised her role on Broadway in the spring of 2002, before returning to the show's London version in late April 2002.[18] Late the same year, Van Outen appeared as one of many special guest stars in a performance of The Play What I Wrote once again in London's West End.

In 2003, she returned to the London stage at the Gielgud Theatre in Andrew Lloyd Webber's one-woman show Tell Me on a Sunday,[19][20] which he reworked for her. She was a huge success and the show ran for nearly a year.[21] She then joined the cast of the established ITV sentimental drama Where the Heart Is as one of the lead characters, playing single mother Kim Blakeney, continuing for two series.[22]

Van Outen played Maureen in the 2007 London revival of Rent Remixed directed by William Baker until 22 December.[23] She was forced to cancel some performances owing to a throat infection.[24] In July 2009, van Outen played Mary in Hotel Babylon for the BBC. Her character was at the hotel for a science convention.[25] In August 2009, van Outen made her Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut in Blondes,[26] a show by Jackie Clune.

Van Outen took over the role of Paulette Bonafonté from Jill Halfpenny in the West End production of Legally Blonde on 25 October 2010.[27] She continued in the role for 6 months. In 2012, Van Outen was cast in the film of the Ray Cooney farce Run for Your Wife alongside Danny Dyer, Sarah Harding and Neil Morrissey.[28] In 2013, she co-wrote the one-woman musical play Some Girl I Used To Know with Terry Ronald,[29] which she will tour in from January 2014.[30]

In February 2015, it was announced that Van Outen would be joining the cast of EastEnders.[31] Van Outen plays intelligent businesswoman Karin Smart who gets involved with Max Branning (Jake Wood), and has business history with Phil Mitchell (Steve McFadden). In August 2015, Van Outen performed the title role in a concert performance of the musical Sweet Charity at Cadogan Hall,[32] with actor/singer Michael Xavier, ex-Girls Aloud band member Kimberley Walsh and West End star Kerry Ellis.

In September 2018, it was announced that she would be joining the cast of the 2018 London revival of Chicago at the Phoenix Theatre in the West End as Velma Kelly.[33] Due to start rehearsals on 10 September 2018, in preparation for her first performance on 24 September, it was discovered that Van Outen had suffered a stress fracture in her heel, postponing her return to the production with her new dates yet to be announced.[34]

Van Outen joined the cast of Australian soap opera Neighbours as Prudence Wallace in June 2019.[35] She filmed her first scenes alongside cast members Stefan Dennis and Rebekah Elmaloglou in London, before flying out to join the cast at the serial's Melbourne studios.[35] Her first scenes aired in September 2019.[36]

Television appearances

In 2007, Van Outen co-presented Who Dares, Sings! with Ben Shephard and in 2008 she fronted Sky1's Hairspray: The School Musical. She currently narrates the ITVBe series The Only Way Is Essex.

Van Outen guest presented This Morning in 2005, The Friday Night Project in 2006, The 5 O'Clock Show in 2010, Lorraine in 2010 and 2012 and Sunday Brunch in 2013. She was a judge on the 2011 series Born to Shine. She was a guest panellist on an episode of Loose Women in 2014 and became a regular panellist on the show in September 2017.

Van Outen has been the presenter of Matalan Presents: The Show since 2016. On 30 August 2017, she was announced as one of the four judges on the first season of Ireland's Got Talent in 2018.[37] In 2020, she competed in the ITV singing competition The Masked Singer as 'Fox', where she placed fifth.[citation needed]

Radio

On 4 February 2008, van Outen reunited with her former Big Breakfast partner Johnny Vaughan as co-host of Capital Breakfast on Capital Radio.[38] On 29 July 2008, she quit the show, halfway through her contract, because of TV commitments and the early mornings.[39] However, in April 2011 van Outen said that she left the show because relations between her and Vaughan had soured. She claims Vaughan has not spoken to her since.[40] In spring 2013, van Outen started presenting her own Saturday afternoon radio show on London's Magic 105.4, airing between 1:00 pm and 3:00 pm.

Strictly Come Dancing

In September 2012, van Outen was announced as one of the celebrities competing on the tenth series of Strictly Come Dancing. She partnered with professional dancer James Jordan. The couple secured top of the leaderboard 7 times. However, controversy arose when viewers criticized her participation in the competition because of the advantage of having had previous stage experience.[41] On 20 December 2012, van Outen and Jordan finished as runners-up alongside Girls Aloud singer Kimberley Walsh & Pasha Kovalev, behind winning couple, Olympic gymnast Louis Smith & Flavia Cacace.[42]

The brown 10 from Craig Revel Horwood was based on Denise alone, he actually gave them a 9 because James made 3 or 4 mistakes.

Dancing on Ice

On 23 September 2020, van Outen was announced as one of the celebrities competing on the thirteenth series of Dancing on Ice. She was partnered with Matt Evers. On 16 January 2021, van Outen suffered a partially dislocated shoulder and tendon damage to her left shoulder after falling during rehearsals for the launch show of series 13 of Dancing On Ice; van Outen was able to perform a modified dance routine with her professional skate partner Matt Evers on the launch show. On 26 January 2021, van Outen withdrew from the competition as a result of her dislocation, as well as three bone fractures which were confirmed after further MRI scans.[43]

Other work

Van Outen has designed two collections thus far for the website Very, part of the Shop Direct Group. The first collection was a maternity range launched in March 2010 and the second an autumn/winter collection.[44]

In 1998 and 1999 she also co hosted the Childline concert in Dublin

In 2021, she returned to music and released a cover of the Les Misérables musical song "On My Own" as a charity single in aid of the Make A Difference Trust.[45] In February 2021, she launched her first podcast alongside partner Eddie Boxshall. Before We Say I Do follows the couple as they investigate types of relationship counselling in an attempt to iron out any differences they may have before they get married. It is produced by Yahoo! UK.[46] In September 2023, Van Outen released the duet "That's What Friends Are For" with Duncan James. The single, in aid of Macmillan Cancer Support, was recorded in tribute to their friend, singer Sarah Harding, who died from breast cancer in 2021.[citation needed]

Personal life

From 1998 to 2001, she dated Jamiroquai lead singer Jay Kay. The couple were engaged,[47] but they split up in 2001. The Jamiroquai song "Little L" is said to have been inspired by their break-up.[48]

From 2009 to 2015 (separated 2013); she was married to Any Dream Will Do winner Lee Mead.[49] They have a daughter together, Betsy, who was born in 2010. From July 2014 she was in a relationship with commodities trader Eddie Boxshall; they lived together in Chelmsford. The relationship ended in January 2022.[50]

Van Outen has worked with charity. She actively supports Breast Cancer Care[51][52] and Great Ormond Street Hospital. In 2009, Van Outen climbed Mount Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief, and in 2013 took part in a trek across the Great Wall of China for the Royal Marsden Hospital.[53]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Jack and the Beanstalk Jill Televised pantomime
1999 Tube Tales Alex in segment "Horny"
2000 Love, Honour and Obey Maureen
2007 Are You Ready for Love? Rita
2012 Keith Lemon: The Film Herself Cameo
Run for Your Wife Michelle Smith
2017 Gloves Off Vera
Amy and Sophia Diane Collins
2020 Fireman Sam: Norman Price And The Mystery In The Sky Professor Polonium Animated special
2023 Sumotherhood Nurse Cameo

Television

Year Title Role
1995–1996 Massive! Presenter
1998 The Bill Melanie
1997–2001 The Big Breakfast Presenter
1998–2000 The Record of the Year Presenter
1998–1999 Babes in the Wood Leigh Jackson
1999–2000 Something for the Weekend Presenter
1998 Prickly Heat Presenter
2001 Murder in Mind Debra Squires
2003 The 100 Greatest Musicals Presenter
2004 Passport to Paradise Presenter
2005 This Morning Guest presenter
2005-2006 Where the Heart Is Kim Blakeney
2006 The National Lottery: Christmas Special Presenter
2007 Any Dream Will Do! Judge
Grease: You're the One that I Want! Presenter
The Friday Night Project Guest presenter
2008 Backstage at the Brits Presenter
Who Dares, Sings! Co-presenter
Hairspray: The School Musical Presenter
I'd Do Anything Judge
2010 The 5 O'Clock Show Guest presenter
2010-12 Lorraine Guest presenter
2010—present The Only Way Is Essex Narrator
2011 Born to Shine Judge
2012 Strictly Come Dancing Contestant
2013 Sunday Brunch Guest presenter
2014, 2017–2018 Loose Women Guest panellist (2014)
Regular panellist (2017–18)
2015 EastEnders Karin Smart (4 episodes)
2016–present Matalan Presents: The Show[54] Presenter
2018–2019 Ireland's Got Talent Judge
2019–present Celebrity Gogglebox Herself
2019–2020 Neighbours Prudence Wallace (19 episodes)
2020 The Masked Singer Fox (contestant)
James Martin’s Christmas Day Guest[55]
The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special Herself[56]
2020–2023 Steph's Packed Lunch Occasional guest and stand-in presenter
2021 Dancing on Ice Contestant
The Circle Contestant[57]
Paul Sinha's TV Showdown Guest[58]
Sunday Brunch Guest[59]
Cooking with the Stars Contestant
2022 Secrets of the Middle Aisle (w/t) Presenter[60]
The Big Narstie Show Herself[61]
2023 Air Fryers: Are They Worth It? Presenter[62]
Secrets of Supermarket Own Brands Presenter[63]
2024 Secrets of the Supermarket Buyers Presenter[64]

Stage credits

Year Title Role Venue
1988-1989 Peter Pan Wendy Civic Theatre, Barnsley
1995-1996 Sleeping Beauty Sleeping Beauty Poole Arts Centre
1996-1997 Dick Whittington Alice Fitzwarren Horsham Arts Centre
2001, 2002 Chicago Roxie Hart Adelphi Theatre
2002 Chicago Roxie Hart Ambassador Theatre
2003 Tell Me on a Sunday The Girl Gielgud Theatre
2007 Rent Remixed Maureen Duke of York's Theatre
2009 Blondes Various Edinburgh Fringe Festival
2010–2011 Legally Blonde Paulette Savoy Theatre
2014 Some Girl I Used to Know Stephanie UK Tour (Various Locations)
2018 Chicago Velma Kelly Phoenix Theatre

Discography

Albums

List of albums, with selected chart positions, sales, and certifications
Title Album details Peak chart positions
UK
[65]
Tell Me On a Sunday
  • Released: April 2003
  • Labels: Polydor
  • Formats: CD, digital download
 34

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
UK
[65][66]
1998 "Especially for You" (as Denise And Johnny) 3 non album single
2002 "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (with Andy Williams) 23 The Essential Andy Williams
2021 "On My Own"[67] - non album single
2022 "From New York to L.A."[68] - non album single
2023 "That's What Friends Are For"(with Duncan James)) [a] non album single

Bibliography

  • A Bit of Me: From Basildon to Broadway, and back (Ebury Spotlight Books, 2022) ISBN 9781529109979[70]

See also

Notelist

  1. ^ "That's What Friends Are For" did not enter the UK Singles Top 100 but debuted and peaked at number 53 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart Top 100 on 8 September 2023.[69]

References

  1. ^ "Denise Van Outen: Ireland's Got Talent judge, Neighours, West End and Broadway and daughter Betsy". Rsvplive.ie. Retrieved 6 January 2020.
  2. ^ "Denise van Outen: You ask the questions". The Independent. 14 September 2013. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  3. ^ "Denise van Outen: You ask the questions". The Independent. 29 May 2003.
  4. ^ a b c A blonde has more fun The Observer – 25 March 2001
  5. ^ "TV Guide biography". TV Guide. 27 May 1974. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  6. ^ "Sylvia Young Theatre School (Ex-students)". Sylvia Young Theatre School. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  7. ^ a b Biography All Saints A to Z Archived 5 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2 January 2006.
  8. ^ Denise van Outen: Why heartbreak only makes her stronger Sunday Mirror – 6 February 2005
  9. ^ Anita Dobson and Denise Douglas Archived 7 February 2009 at the Wayback Machine anitadobsonfanclub.com – Retrieved 11 August 2007
  10. ^ "Stars who got a break on The Bill". The Guardian. UK. 26 March 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010.
  11. ^ "Story of THINK! – THINK!". Think.gov.uk. Retrieved 23 May 2020.
  12. ^ "THOSE 2 GIRLS | full Official Chart History | Official Charts Company". OfficialCharts.com.
  13. ^ MyVillage Archived 28 September 2007 at the Wayback Machine – various, from 2007
  14. ^ a b CV at agents PfD Archived 16 November 2007 at the Wayback Machine – Retrieved 11 August 2007
  15. ^ "Drama – Murder in Mind". BBC. Archived from the original on 4 November 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  16. ^ "Van Outen's career goes down the Tube" BBC News – 3 December 1998
  17. ^ "Van Outen lights up Chicago" BBC News – 18 April 2001
  18. ^ Ovation for returning Van Outen BBC News – 30 April 2002
  19. ^ Cast List – "Tell Me On a Sunday Archived 8 October 2008 at the Wayback Machine – reallyuseful.com: retrieved 11 August 2007
  20. ^ The Basildon princess and the King of easy melody – united at last in a West End musical – BBCNews, 2003
  21. ^ Denise Van Outen -'I'm getting old and kids think I'm..." Sunday Mirror, 30 November 2003
  22. ^ Van Outen joins Where the Heart Is RTE.ie, 2005 – Retrieved 11 August 2007
  23. ^ "Rent – Denise Van Outen Takes on Maureen" IndieLondon 2007
  24. ^ Denise Van Outen gives costar laryngitis after lesbian kiss Archived 18 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine Now Magazine, 2007
  25. ^ Mueller, Andrew (24 July 2009). "Watch this". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 1 May 2010.
  26. ^ "Blondes | Edinburgh Festival Guide". Edinburghfestival.list.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  27. ^ "Denise Van Outen, Siobhan Dillon and Carley Stenson to Join West End's Legally Blonde". Playbill. 27 August 2010. Archived from the original on 2 October 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  28. ^ "Run For Your Wife". Run For Your Wife. Retrieved 31 December 2011.
  29. ^ "Denise Van Outen tours one-woman show next year". Whatsonstage.com. 16 October 2013.
  30. ^ "Some Girl I Used to Know". Some Girl (2013) Ltd. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 25 November 2013.
  31. ^ Daniel Kilkelly (2 February 2015). "EastEnders: Denise Van Outen signs up for guest role". Digital Spy. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  32. ^ "Sweet Charity in concert starring Denise Van Outen". Cadogan Hall. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  33. ^ "DENISE VAN OUTEN to star as Velma Kelly in CHICAGO". Bestoftheatre.co.uk. Retrieved 1 September 2018.
  34. ^ "Following Injury, Denise Van Outen Postpones Return to Chicago in London's West End". Playbill. 10 September 2018. Retrieved 11 September 2018.
  35. ^ a b Brown, David (12 June 2019). "Denise van Outen joins the cast of Neighbours". Radio Times. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  36. ^ Kilkelly, Daniel (8 September 2019). "Neighbours hints at evil cult storyline as Paul and Terese arrive in London". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 December 2019.
  37. ^ "Ireland's Got Talent is COMING To TV3". TV3. Retrieved 30 August 2017.
  38. ^ "Denise van Outen to become Capital Radio Breakfast Co-host". BBC News. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2008.
  39. ^ "Van Outen leaves Capital Radio". The Guardian. 4 August 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2008.
  40. ^ "Denise Reveals Johnny Rift". Sky Living Online. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011.
  41. ^ "Strictly Come Dancing 2012: Denise Van Outen: 'The hate has been hard' | Strictly Come Dancing 2013". Telly Mix. 22 December 2012. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  42. ^ Press Association (23 December 2012). "Strictly Come Dancing final watched by 14 million | Television & radio | guardian.co.uk". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  43. ^ "Denise Van Outen: 'Clumsy' star shrugs off injury to appear on Dancing On Ice". news.sky.com. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  44. ^ Berwin, Lisa (12 February 2010). "Very launches maternity range with Denise van Outen". Retail Week. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  45. ^ "Denise van Outen to Release "On My Own' Single in Aid of the Make a Difference Trust".
  46. ^ "Denise Van Outen on why she and partner Eddie are having therapy for their new podcast". uk.news.yahoo.com. 8 February 2021. Retrieved 17 February 2021.
  47. ^ Kay Jay Kay Jay: 'I will marry Denise' BBC News – 19 November 1999
  48. ^ contactmusic.com. Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  49. ^ [1] [dead link‍]
  50. ^ Waddell, Lily (8 January 2022). "Denise Van Outen confirms 'saddening' split from fiancé Eddie Boxshall". Evening Standard. Retrieved 8 January 2022 – via Yahoo! Sports.
  51. ^ "newkerala.com". Newkerala.com. 30 September 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  52. ^ "Virgin Money Giving | Fundraising | Denise & Fearne's Trek for Breast Cancer". Uk.virginmoneygiving.com. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010.
  53. ^ "Christine Edwards is fundraising for The Royal Marsden Cancer Charity". Justgiving.com. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  54. ^ "Denise Van Outen to front ITV-produced fashion show on Matalan platforms". Prolificnorth.co.uk. 5 September 2016.
  55. ^ "James Martin's Christmas Day". itv.com. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  56. ^ "The Great British Sewing Bee Celebrity Christmas Special". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2020.
  57. ^ "A Cast of Famous Faces Play The Circle for SU2C". standuptocancer.org.uk. Retrieved 25 December 2020.
  58. ^ "Paul Sinha's TV Showdown". comedy.co.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2020.
  59. ^ "Sunday Brunch". channel4.com. Retrieved 14 February 2021.
  60. ^ "Denise Van Outen looks at Britain's middle aisle obsession for Channel 4". channel4.com/press. Retrieved 27 June 2022.
  61. ^ "The Big Narstie Show". radiotimes.com. Retrieved 3 December 2022.
  62. ^ "Air Fryers: Are They Worth It?". radiotimes.com. Retrieved 21 June 2022.
  63. ^ "Denise Van Outen investigates secrets of supermarket own-brand products in new Channel 4 series". channel4.com/press. Retrieved 13 July 2023.
  64. ^ "Denise Van Outen to uncover Secrets of the Supermarket Buyers". channel4.com/press. 27 June 2024. Retrieved 2 July 2024.
  65. ^ a b "UK Charts > Denise van Outen". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  66. ^ "UK Charts > Denise and Johnny Outen". Official Charts Company. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  67. ^ "Denise van Outen to Release "On My Own' Single in Aid of the Make a Difference Trust".
  68. ^ "Denise Van Outen announces disco single 'From New York To LA'". Retro Pop. 24 June 2022. Retrieved 24 June 2022.
  69. ^ "Official Singles Downloads Chart on 8/9/2023 8 September 2023 - 14 September 2023". Official Charts. 8 September 2023. Retrieved 8 September 2023.
  70. ^ A Bit of Me: From Basildon to Broadway, and back. uk.
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