Strictly star Van Outen splits from Lee
Splitting up ... actor Lee Mead and Strictly's Denise Van Outen
HEARTBROKEN Strictly star Denise Van Outen has ended her four-year marriage to actor Lee Mead.
A source close to Denise, 39, said the couple, who have a three-year-old daughter, remained the best of friends.
The source said: “They’re going their separate ways. It’s very sad but they have grown apart.”
The pair are said to have split because they “fell out of love.”
The source added: “The spark just faded after a while.
“It’s very sad but they’re still best mates and hope it will stay that way.
“There hasn’t been a big blowout but they are now having a trial separation and coming to terms with going their separate ways.
“They hardly saw each other over the last nine months because of their work commitments.
“The distance just became too difficult to overcome.
“They had grown apart — and fallen out of love.”
Denise, who made the final of Strictly Come Dancing last year with dancer James Jordan, has a three-year-old daughter called Betsy with musical star Lee, 32.
She will be the couple’s priority in the future.
Hollywood bid blamed ... Denise Van Outen with Lee Mead who has quit family home
It is believed Lee has now moved out of the couple’s North London flat and is living in the West End, where he is currently working.
The source said: “Lee will still come to the house to look after Betsy because he and Denise still genuinely like each other even though their romantic relationship has broken down.”
The couple made the decision to split after Lee returned to the UK in May following a lengthy stint living in Los Angeles, where he is trying to break into Hollywood as a TV actor.
The source added: “Denise always hoped they were going to find a way to work things out when Lee got back and they started spending more time together. But it wasn’t to be.”
The couple, both from working-class families in Essex, shocked the showbiz world when they revealed they were dating in 2007 — just weeks after meeting on the BBC1 talent show Any Dream Will Do.
Denise was a judge, while Lee won the show — earning him the star role in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.
At the time Lee was dating dancer Kerry Stammers. But he said he dumped his girlfriend of three years before beginning his new relationship.
Denise spoke about her new romance with Lee for the first time in The Sun.
He'll do ... Denise Van Outen on Any Dream Will Do
She said: “Lee heard I was single, called and asked me out. We kept it quiet — but not that quiet.
“We were kissing and walking down the street holding hands. And before you ask, I’m not telling you if he wears his dreamcoat in bed!”
Two years later they married in a private ceremony in the Seychelles in front of 12 guests. Shortly after they announced they were expecting their first child.
Soon after Betsy was born the couple became plagued by rumours their relationship was on the rocks.
But the insider said: “When people first said there were strains in their marriage 18 months ago it just wasn’t true.
“People assumed because they didn’t appear together in public very often that something was wrong.
“That wasn’t the case. They were happy and confident leading separate lives and being known as individual people. Of course, they fought. What couple doesn’t?
“But with all the public scrutiny it became like some sort of bizarre self-fulfilling prophecy.
“There has been intense pressure on the relationship because everyone has been asking about it.”
Star is born ... Lee Mead on Any Dream Will Do
BBC
Lee’s desire to become a star in America resulted in lengthy periods of separation. He did not attend last year’s Strictly final to support Denise because of work commitments, which resulted in more speculation.
Denise admitted in April the time apart caused a “massive strain” on the relationship but remained hopeful of being able to sort things out.
She said: “To be honest, with you it is really difficult. We just haven’t seen each other.
“I started on Strictly in September and we have literally been like ships passing in the night.
“That’s what our jobs are like. We haven’t really spent any proper time together for six months. We’ve just been trying to juggle everything. And when we are together we’re at home.
“We’ve never done the whole red carpet thing as a couple. I mean, I’d say this has been the hardest few months out of all of it.”
In a different interview, Lee said: “It’s hard being away.
“You balance everything and work it as best you can.”
Denise and Lee, who also own a a 17th-century house in Kent, appeared in public together with Betsy just a week ago at a toy event at London store Hamleys.
However, family outings had become increasingly rare over the last year.
Dreamboats ... Denise Van Outen with 'Jasons'
Ken McKay / Rex Features
Denise holidayed six times on her own over that period, taking trips to Dubai, Thailand, Mallorca and Ibiza. But last month Lee justified his time away from Denise by saying: “It’s very important to be your own people, do what you love and be great parents. But it’s also good to have time apart.
“To have to be there 24/7 is too needy for us. It’s right and normal for us to have time as a family together but also to have holidays with our friends.
“I know not everyone does that. But we’re all different.”
Adding to their problems was the fact that Denise did not want to relocate to Hollywood.
In 2008 she turned down an offer to host a major US TV dating show there with American Idol presenter Ryan Seacrest because she had just met Lee and wanted to start a family in England.
She said this year: “I wouldn’t move. I personally couldn’t live in LA. I love going out there for holidays but I think LA does funny things to people. Most people I know who have lived there become really affected by it — you can easily lose part of yourself.”
Until recently Denise, star of numerous TV shows and West End musicals, had hoped to have baby No2 with Lee.
She said: “I would really love to have another one.” Lee appeared non-committal about extending their family.
In May he said: “It would be nice to have another one. But we’ll just have to see what happens.”
Tying the knot ... Denise Van Outen and Lee Mead's wedding in Seychelles
Denise became a household name hosting The Big Breakfast in the 90s. She was later named Rear of the Year and Britain’s best bikini body. She will now concentrate on her career, including launching her first solo theatre show.
Yesterday she went ahead with her weekly live radio show on Magic FM.
A source said: “Denise is very professional and would never let problems in her personal life interfere with her commitments. She is throwing herself into work at the moment.”
The couple last tweeted each other two weeks ago on Lee’s birthday. She wrote: “Happy birthday@leemeadofficial. You have to wear the badge Betsy got you all day. That’s an order. She’s bossy xxx.” He replied: “xxx.”
Denise has had a rollercoaster love life over her two decades in the public eye.
She was previously engaged to Jay Kay of Jamiroquai, who she dated from 1998 to 2001.
Her next serious boyfriend was club boss Richard Traviss. They split in 2005 after two years.
Before dating Lee, Denise was heartbroken when actor James Lance dumped her.
As a result, she made a pact to marry close friend David Walliams if she hadn’t found a boyfriend by January 2008.
Tweet best wishes to Denise & Lee #denisesplit
Busy careers took their toll
On Strictly ... Denise Van Outen with James Jordan
BBC
On Strictly ... Denise Van Outen with James Jordan
BBC
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By DAN WOOTTON, Sunday Showbiz Editor
I KNOW just how hard Denise, who is a great mum and loyal family woman, tried to save her marriage for the sake of her daughter Betsy.
Last time I interviewed her in April she was exhausted having stayed up all night to Skype Lee in the US, where he has been pursuing a Hollywood career.
While many will claim the couple were telling fibs when they defended the long months apart and numerous solo holidays, the reality is that for a time they genuinely believed the relationship could be salvaged.
In the end, the pressure of pursuing two high-profile entertainment careers was too much.
Last family picture ... Lee Mead, Denise Van Outen and Betsy in July
Piers Allardyce / Rex Features
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