Denise Welch, the British actress and winner of Celebrity Big Brother 2012, has announced that she has split from husband of 24 years, Tim Healy. After pictures of Denise with another man surfaced in the press, she was forced to confirm the news on her Itv television show Loose Women.
Fighting back the tears, Denise told her fellow-panellists and the live studio audience, "My family made a decision that we would talk about this today. Tim and I separated some time ago. So I'm not having an affair, we have been living our own lives for some time now. I wish him every happiness. It's not about anyone else. It's never been about anyone else". The alleged 'affair' refers to Welch's relationship with the 39-year-old party planner Lincoln Townley. Justifying her decision to keep the split under wraps, Denise explained how she was "scared" to make if official because her kids (Matthew, 22 and Louis, 10) are in a state of flux. She added, "They are quite relieved because they want us to be happy - and we will be happier. Since we acknowledged this we've become better friends because before we were fighting". After making the announcement, the actress immediately found support from her co-host Andrea Mclean who said, "Just know we'll always be there for you and love you lots". MCClean recently announced that she too has split from her husband, the former television star Steve Toms. Panellist Sherrie Hewson tried to lighten the mood, by asking, "Is the new hair about this?", with Denise replying, "The new hair is a little bit about that, but I also wanted to wash that bloody house out of my hair!", referring to the Big Brother house.
Welch scooped this year's Celebrity Big Brother prize after fending off competition from X Factor bad-boy Frankie Cocozza in the final.