Denise Van Outen ends 20-year feud with ex-Big Breakfast co-star Johnny Vaughan

Denise Van Outen has revealed she’s finally ended her 20-year feud with her former Big Breakfast co-star Johnny Vaughan.

In a new interview, the presenter, 46, admitted that while she had a ‘rocky relationship’ with the broadcaster, 54, in the past, the pair managed to brush aside their issues and reconciled during the nationwide coronavirus lockdown.

Tensions between the hosts – who fronted the Channel 4 programme from September 1997 until January 2001 – grew as the TOWIE narrator claimed he went behind her back to renegotiate his contract.

On mending their differences, the actress told The Mirror: ‘Johnny and I have had a bit of a rocky relationship over the years for various reasons and, funnily enough, we’ve messaged a lot in lockdown.

‘These situations make you reflect and realise some of the silly niggles and arguments you have are just not worth it.’

The media personality also enthused ‘it would be nice’ to reunite with the Radio X star to mark the show’s 30th anniversary next year.  

MailOnline has contacted Johnny’s representatives for further comment.  

The mother-of-one – who recently pulled out of Dancing On Ice after fracturing her shoulder – spoke candidly about their much publicised fallout for the first time on Loose Women in 2017. 

Denise revealed at the time: ‘I had a big fallout with Johnny Vaughan when we worked on The Big Breakfast and at that time we were like brother and sister. We were best friends, unbreakable.

‘The whole relationship fell apart when we started to renegotiate our contracts because I always felt we worked together as a team and that’s how it should be. We created it together.

‘Not just us but the rest of the team working on the show. I always had that mentality that it was about all of us. But Johnny and I know there are other influences involved, and agents and everything — but he was negotiating separately from me.

‘I found out and obviously confronted him and I realised then at that point that our friendship had gone in two different directions and for me it was tarnished. That’s why I left the show because I knew at that point that it would never be the same.’ 

Grilled further by the panellists about the reason behind their dispute, the Chicago star confirmed they parted ways due to money.

Denise said: ‘It was mainly to do with pay and a few other things. I think the view was that I had money coming in from acting on the side. 

 ‘I loved him so much and I still do. When I see him now, he makes me laugh so much. I forget about it. But I don’t know if it would ever be the same…’  

Their matchless on-screen chemistry boosted The Big Breakfast’s audience figures to record levels, but ended when the blonde left to pursue an acting career.

Although the thespian returned to the series in 2000, they could not revive the show’s dwindling numbers. 

In a highly-anticipated move in 2008, The Masked Singer star was invited to co-host Capital FM’s breakfast show with Johnny. 

Many expected to hear their captivating bond, memorable from The Big Breakfast days, but the duo instead encountered a strained working relationship and Denise notably quit after just six months, halfway through her contract.