Denise Van Outen has revealed she has started drinking again after quitting booze for a year.
The TV personality, 46, turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism after breaking her foot and falling into depression – but later eliminated it from her life to focus on being healthy.
After a year of sobriety, Denise admitted she’s ‘massively fallen off the wagon’ during lockdown, a time that has made her realise partner Eddie Boxshall, 47, is ‘The One.’
‘I massively fell off the wagon’: Denise Van Outen has revealed she has started drinking again after quitting booze for a year (pictured in 2019)
In an exclusive interview with MailOnline, Denise said: ‘I did have a three-week period in lockdown where everything went out the window.
‘I spent a year sober. I didn’t have a drink for a year – not because I had a problem with drinking so it wasn’t an issue but I stopped drinking for a year.
‘I was doing a lot of training and singing. I did The Masked Singer and I was working on an album.
‘But then I massively fell off the wagon and drank and drank and ate all the things I shouldn’t.
‘We have got on so well’: The actress and singer told MailOnline that she believes partner Eddie Boxshall is ‘The One’ and says the couple haven’t argued once during lockdown together
‘By about the third week of doing that I said to Eddie, “I need to be good again now.” I had a brilliant time but I thought I couldn’t be doing this.’
The West End star has been dating Eddie since 2014 following her divorce from ex-husband Lee Mead, 38.
Denise and West End star Lee, who were married for four years, share daughter Betsy, 10, while Eddie has two children, Jordan, 25, and Leah, 21, from a previous relationship.
Denise said she gets on better with Eddie than any of her previous partners and being in lockdown together at her Essex home has proven he’s ‘The One.’
Former relationship: The West End star has been dating Eddie since 2014 following her divorce from ex-husband Lee Mead (pictured in 2010), who she was married to for four years
Family: Denise and Lee share daughter Betsy, 10, while Eddie has two kids from a previous relationship
She said: ‘That’s the thing isn’t it? When would you ever spend this amount of time with anybody?
‘After all of this I can honestly say that Eddie, out of anyone I’ve ever been with, is the person I genuinely get on the best with. We have got on so well.
‘We have not had one argument or fall out the whole of lockdown. We have really enjoyed each other’s company.
‘He is definitely The One. If there was ever a test then it’s lockdown. We have had a lot of laughs together.’
‘At some point it would be nice’: The couple, who star on Channel 4’s Gogglebox, have ruled out having children together but Denise says they’re keen to get married one day
The couple, who star on Channel 4’s Gogglebox, have ruled out having children together but Denise explained they’re keen to get married one day when they’re able to celebrate their wedding without any social distancing restrictions.
She said: ‘About three years ago we did talk about having kids, but I’m 46, Eddie is 47 and I know people do still have babies in their mid 40s but between us we have three kids and we love our lives at the moment.
‘I was obviously a single mum for five years of Betsy’s life and it was hard at times but now she’s older and we’ve got freedom to enjoy ourselves.
‘But we have talked about getting married. We certainly wouldn’t do it at the moment. We wouldn’t want a socially distanced wedding.
‘At some point it would be nice. We have discussed it and said it would be nice to do but it has to be the right time and this year isn’t it.’
‘I was miserable’: Denise, who performs in West End show Cabaret All Stars, admitted in March she had given up alcohol after breaking her foot and falling into a bad place
Denise, who hosts and performs in West End show Cabaret All Stars, said in March she had stopped drinking after gaining weight and suffering from low confidence – but the absence of drink made her turn her life around.
Speaking earlier this year, she said: ‘I broke my foot and it really had a negative effect on my life.
‘From then on, I sat on my bum for four months – I was miserable, I put on weight and I lost my confidence. I didn’t want to do anything …
‘The best thing is that on a night out nowadays, I remember everything and I’m back in bed at a reasonable time.
‘When people say to me “You’re boring”, I just think “No, I feel great, actually”.’
‘I’ve got to get back into my fishnets!’: Denise sings in Cabaret All Stars, which is one of the first theatre shows to reopen their doors following the coronavirus lockdown
Denise stars in one of the first theatre shows to reopen their doors following the coronavirus lockdown.
Cabaret All Stars, which is on at Proud Embankment from August 7, showcases a variety of performers including burlesque dancers, fire breathers, aerial acts, sword swallowers and magicians, as well as Denise who sings.
The London based venue, that acts as a restaurant and theatre, will welcome back audiences after adapting their space to adhere to the government’s safety measures.
Denise said: ‘I only got two weeks into the show when I started and then we went into lockdown and I honestly thought I wouldn’t get back on stage any time soon.
‘I am thrilled’: The show, which is on at Proud Embankment from August 7, will welcome audiences again while maintaining the government’s guidelines to ensure everyone’s safety
‘Then I got the call to say they’ve got the setup there that we can follow all the government guidelines and do the show safely, I am just thrilled.
‘I feel safe enough to perform there so I hope people feel reassured. I’ve got to get back into my fishnets, so as soon as I had the nod I started training every day.
‘I have lived in trainers in lockdown so I’m going to have a practice in my heels around my kitchen.
‘I literally cannot wait. It’s an itch that needs to be scratched when it comes to performing.’