Cute lovebirds Denise Van Outen and Lee Mead turned heads when they strolled hand in hand in Hampstead, north London, last Bank Holiday Monday. It wasn’t just their looks of love that drew glances, but also Denise’s tummy.
The happy couple are laughing off the baby rumours, even though Denise admitted recently that she’s ‘looking forward to having children eventually’.
She’s clearly happy to have left behind her partying days in favour of a more low-key life with Lee, even looking for a new property away from London.
‘Lee’s the most grown-up man I’ve been out with,’ Denise said recently. ‘I’ve dated some cocky men and they're nothing but trouble. Now I want a bit of stability in my life.’ Although the search isn’t on for a family home – yet!
Rumours that Denise, 34, might be expecting her first child with her boyfriend of almost a year Lee, 27, started spinning in early August after Denise decided to take a break from her Now column and abruptly left her breakfast radio gig with London’s Capital FM.
The station wrongly said Denise ‘wasn't able to handle the early starts as they were impacting on her personal life and her health’, but the truth is, she was juggling her ever-growing TV commitments with her radio show and something had to give.
The following week, tired-looking Denise sported a floaty, ruffled red dress at a Sky event and the room was buzzing with talk that an announcement might be around the corner.
But, for now, motherhood is the last thing Denise can take on. She has a gruelling task ahead of her with groundbreaking new Sky One show Hairspray: The School Musical, which kicked off on Sunday and runs every week until 19 October. We’ll see her preparing the pupils of an ordinary secondary school as they stage their version of the famous musical.
It was good to see Denise taking some time out with Lee, looking more relaxed than she has in years. Smiling as she sipped her coffee and wandered with the Any Dream Will Do star, she looked a million miles from the party girl we once knew.
See the exclusive photos of Denise Van Outen and Lee Mead in Now magazine dated 8 September 2008 - out now!
