Denise van Outen

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Denise van Outen
Denise van Outen Waterloo bridge.jpg
Van Outen filming on Waterloo Bridge
Born Denise Kathleen Outen
(1974-05-27) 27 May 1974 (age 38)
Basildon, Essex, England
Nationality British
Ethnicity English
Occupation Actress, singer, dancer, television presenter
Years active 1986–present
Television The Big Breakfast
Babes in the Wood
Something for the Weekend
Grease: You're the One that I Want!
Any Dream Will Do
I'd Do Anything
Who Dares, Sings!
Born To Shine
Spouse(s) Lee Mead (m. 2009–present)
Children Daughter (Betsy Mead)
Parents Ted and Kathleen Outen

Denise van Outen (born Denise Kathleen Outen, 27 May 1974)[citation needed] is an English actress, singer and television presenter. Her most notable roles to date are as a presenter on The Big Breakfast, and as Roxie Hart in the musical Chicago both in the West End and on Broadway.

Contents

Early life [edit]

Born Denise Kathleen Outen in Basildon, Essex, she is the youngest of Ted and Kathleen Outen's three children and was brought up a Catholic.[1] She has a brother Terry and sister Jackie.[2][3]

At the age of seven, she began modelling for knitting patterns,[2] and showed an early flair for performing. This resulted in her attending the Sylvia Young Theatre School. In 1986, at the age of 12,[1] she played Éponine in Les Misérables alongside fellow Sylvia Young student Melanie Blatt[4] (the role paid her school fees[5]), 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.[2]

Early career [edit]

As a teenager she had brief roles on a number of television dramas including Kappatoo[6] and The Bill.[7] She also sang with Cathy Warwick in "girl group" Those2Girls, by which time she had become Denise van Outen. She also did backing vocals with Melanie Blatt for the band Dreadzone.[4]

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.[8]

Acting career [edit]

During her first stint on the Big Breakfast show, she appeared as Jill in ITV1's version of the pantomime Jack and the Beanstalk[9] 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,[10] and on 2 series of Babes in the Wood with Karl Howman and Samantha Janus.[9]

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.[11] 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.[12] 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.[13] 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,[14][15] which he reworked for her. She was a huge success and the show ran for nearly a year.[16] 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.[17]

Van Outen played Maureen in the 2007 London revival of Rent Remixed directed by William Baker until 22 December.[18] She was forced to cancel some performances owing to a throat infection.[19]

In July 2009, van Outen played Mary in Hotel Babylon for the BBC. Her character was at the hotel for a science convention.[20]

In August 2009, van Outen made her Edinburgh Festival Fringe debut[21] in Blondes,[22] a show by Jackie Clune.

Van Outen took over the role of Paulette Bunafonte from Jill Halfpenny in the West End production of Legally Blonde on 25 October 2010.[23] 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. [24]

Radio [edit]

It was announced on 10 January 2008 that van Outen would be reunited with Vaughan and become the co-host of Capital Breakfast on Capital Radio, from 4 February 2008.[25]

On 29 July 2008 she decided to quit the show halfway through her contract owing to juggling her extensive TV commitments with the early mornings[26]

However, in April 2011 Denise revealed that she left the show because relations between her and Vaughan had soured. She says Vaughan has not spoken to her since.[27]

Strictly Come Dancing [edit]

For Strictly's tenth series in September 2012, van Outen was partnered by professional dancer James Jordan. Early favourites, they secured the top position of the leaderboard 7 times with Denise, including 4 consecutive top positions. Criticism of her place in the competition arose, as some viewers could not accept her further progressing in the competition, with her 'advantage' of stage and dance experience over other celebrities.[28] However, Outen and Jordan did finish as runners-up with singer Kimberley Walsh and her partner Pasha Kovalev, behind the winner gymnast Louis Smith and professional partner Flavia Cacace.[29] See table below for full results.

Fashion ranges [edit]

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.[30]

Charity work [edit]

Van Outen has lent her support to design limited edition T-shirts or vests for the 'Little Tee Campaign' for Breast Cancer Care which donates money for breast cancer research.[31] She continues to support Breast Cancer Charities and Great Ormond Street Hospital.

In 2009 van Outen climbed Mt Kilimanjaro for Comic Relief. Joining her on the climb were Girls Aloud members Cheryl Cole and Kimberley Walsh, Fearne Cotton, Ben Shephard, Gary Barlow, Ronan Keating, Alesha Dixon and Chris Moyles.

In 2010, van Outen along with Fearne Cotton and Alexandra Burke did the Inca Trek in Peru for Breast Cancer Care.[32]

Personal life [edit]

Van Outen's personal life has been subjected to the sharp glare of the British tabloid media. In 1996, Van Outen dated Dodgy guitarist Andy Miller. From 1998 to 2001, she dated Jamiroquai lead singer Jay Kay. They were engaged and reported to be on the verge of marriage,[33] but split up in 2001; his album A Funk Odyssey is mostly about their break-up, with the song "Little L" expressing his fight against cocaine addiction during their break up.[34]

From 2003, she dated 'Brown's' club owner Richard Traviss, but split up with him in May 2005,[16] moving out of the Marylebone home they shared and back into her own garden flat in North London.[5] After appearing on Channel 4's The Friday Night Project and describing her first real kiss with fellow Sylvia Young student James Lance, subsequently they dated for a few weeks in 2007.[35] In November 2007, she began dating Any Dream Will Do winner, Lee Mead. She married Mead in April 2009 in the Seychelles. They have a daughter, Betsy, who was born on 1 May 2010.[36] As of April 2013, she has admitted their relationship is in trouble, with the pair spending increasing amounts of time apart, due to their busy working schedules. She reported that while Mead is looking for work in the USA, she would not be keen to relocate there. [37]

Television [edit]

Television
Year Title Role
1995-96 Massive! Presenter
1997-98, 2000–01 The Big Breakfast Presenter
1999 Something for the Weekend Presenter
2001 Prickly Heat Presenter
2004 Passport to Paradise Presenter
2005 This Morning Guest Presenter
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 Host
2008 Backstage at the Brits Presenter
Who Dares, Sings! Co-presenter
Hairspray: The School Musical Presenter
Who Wants to be a Millionaire? Contestant
2009 Hotel Babylon Guest Appearance
2010 The 5 O'Clock Show Presenter
2010, 12 Lorraine Guest Presenter
2010— The Only Way Is Essex Narrator
2011 Born to Shine Head Judge
The Marriage Ref Panellist
2012 Big Fat Quiz of the 90s Panellist
Strictly Come Dancing Contestant

Film [edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Jack and the Beanstalk Jill TV Movie
1999 Tube Tales Alex in segment "Horny"
2000 Love, Honour and Obey Maureen
2007 Are You Ready for Love? Rita
2012 Run for Your Wife Michelle Smith

Discography [edit]

All singles, unless otherwise stated:

  • 1994: "Wanna Make You Go... Uuh!" (with Those 2 Girls) [UK #74]
  • 1995: "All I Want" (with Those 2 Girls) [UK #36]
  • 1998: "Especially for You" – shown as Denise & Johnny (a cover of the Kylie Minogue & Jason Donovan song of the same name) [UK #3]
  • 1999: "Gimme! Gimme! Gimme! (A Man After Midnight)" – from the ABBAMania compilation album
  • 2002: "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" (With Andy Williams) [UK #23]
  • 2003: "Tell Me On A Sunday" (Original cast recording) [UK Album Charts #34]
  • 2007: "Baby It's Cold" – duet with Russell Watson on his 2007 album Outside In

Strictly Come Dancing appearances [edit]

Week # Dance/Song Judges' scores Result
Craig Revel Horwood Darcey Bussell Len Goodman Bruno Tonioli Total
1 Waltz / With You I'm Born Again 6 6 6 7 25 Safe
2 Jive / Tutti Frutti 8 8 8 8 32 Safe
3 Foxtrot / You've Got a Friend in Me 8 8 8 8 32 Safe
4 Cha Cha Cha / Super Freak 7 7 7 7 28 Safe
5 Vienesse Waltz / At Last 9 8 9 9 35 Safe
6 Paso Doble / Seven Nation Army 9 9 9 9 36 Safe
7 Charleston / Walk Like an Egyptian 9 10 10 10 39 Safe
8 American Smooth / Imagine 9 9 9 10 37 Safe
9 Salsa / Rhythm of the Night 8 8 8 8 32 Safe
10 Dance Fusion (Jive/Quickstep) / Reet Petite 8 9 9 9 35 Bottom two
11 Tango / Roxanne
Rumba / The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face		 9
9		 10
9		 10
10		 10
10		 39
38		 Bottom two
12 Jive / Tutti Frutti
Showdance / What a Feeling
Charleston / Walk Like an Egyptian		 9
10
10		 10
10
10		 10
10
10		 10
10
10		 39
40
40		 Runner Up

References [edit]

  1. ^ a b Frances Hardy (30 August 2008). "It was either quit my job or lose my man, says Denise Van Outen as she quits radio show". Daily Mail. London. Retrieved 2 November 2010. 
  2. ^ a b c A blonde has more fun The Observer – 25 March 2001
  3. ^ "TV Guide biography". Tvguide.com. 27 May 1974. Retrieved 2 November 2010. 
  4. ^ a b Biography All Saints A to Z. Retrieved 2 January 2006.
  5. ^ a b Denise van Outen: Why heartbreak only makes her stronger[dead link] Sunday Mirror – 6 February 2005
  6. ^ Anita Dobson and Denise Douglas anitadobsonfanclub.com – Retrieved 11 August 2007
  7. ^ "Stars who got a break on The Bill". The Guardian (UK: Guardian Media Group). 26 March 2010. Retrieved 31 August 2010. 
  8. ^ MyVillage – various, from 2007
  9. ^ a b CV at agents PfD – Retrieved 11 August 2007
  10. ^ "Drama – Murder in Mind". BBC. Retrieved 2 November 2010. 
  11. ^ "Van Outen's career goes down the Tube" BBC News – 3 December 1998
  12. ^ "Van Outen lights up Chicago" BBC News – 18 April 2001
  13. ^ Ovation for returning Van Outen BBC News – 30 April 2002
  14. ^ Cast List – "Tell Me On a Sunday – reallyuseful.com: retrieved 11 August 2007
  15. ^ The Basildon princess and the King of easy melody – united at last in a West End musical – BBCNews, 2003
  16. ^ a b Denise Van Outen -'I'm getting old and kids think I'm..." Sunday Mirror, 30 November 2003
  17. ^ Van Outen joins Where the Heart Is RTE.ie, 2005 – Retrieved 11 August 2007
  18. ^ "Rent – Denise Van Outen Takes on Maureen" IndieLondon 2007
  19. ^ Denise Van Outen gives costar laryngitis after lesbian kiss Now Magazine, 2007
  20. ^ Mueller, Andrew (24 July 2009). "Watch this". The Guardian (London). Retrieved 1 May 2010. 
  21. ^ "Denise's laugh at blondes | The Sun |Showbiz|TV". The Sun. 9 June 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2010. 
  22. ^ "Blondes | Edinburgh Festival Guide". Edinburghfestival.list.co.uk. Retrieved 2 November 2010. 
  23. ^ "Denise Van Outen, Siobhan Dillon and Carley Stenson to Join West End's Legally Blonde". Playbill. 27 August 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010. 
  24. ^ "Run For Your Wife". Run For Your Wife. Retrieved 31 December 2011. 
  25. ^ "Denise van Outen to become Capital Radio Breakfast Co-host". BBC News. 10 January 2008. Retrieved 12 January 2008. 
  26. ^ "Van Outen quits Capital Radio a half year early". Brand Republic. 29 July 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2008. 
  27. ^ "Denise Reveals Johnny Rift". Sky Living Online. 8 April 2011. Retrieved 8 April 2011. 
  28. ^ "Strictly Come Dancing 2012: Denise Van Outen: ‘The hate has been hard’ | Strictly Come Dancing 2013". Telly Mix. 2012-12-22. Retrieved 2013-02-07. 
  29. ^ Press Association (2012-12-23). "Strictly Come Dancing final watched by 14 million | Television & radio | guardian.co.uk". Guardian. Retrieved 2013-02-07. 
  30. ^ Berwin, Lisa (12 February 2010). "Very launches maternity range with Denise van Outen | News". Retail Week. Retrieved 2 November 2010. 
  31. ^ "newkerala.com". newkerala.com. 30 September 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010. 
  32. ^ "Virgin Money Giving | Fundraising | Denise & Fearne’s Trek for Breast Cancer". Uk.virginmoneygiving.com. 24 September 2010. Retrieved 2 November 2010. 
  33. ^ Jay Kay: 'I will marry Denise' BBC News – 19 November 1999
  34. ^ contactmusic.com. Retrieved 11 August 2007.
  35. ^ "Denise dumps first-kiss guy". Sunday Mirror. Retrieved 2 November 2010. 
  36. ^ "Denise unveils baby Betsy". The Sun. Retrieved 6 May 2010. 
  37. ^ http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2309924/Denise-Van-Outen-admits-marriage-Lee-Mead-massive-strain.html

External links [edit]
Authority control
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