Smallscreen News

Denise Welch is 'separated' from husband

Feb 6, 2012, 18:44 GMT

Denise Welch

Denise Welch has split from husband Tim Healy.

The 53-year-old star - who recently won reality TV show 'Celebrity Big Brother' - announced she is no longer with the 'Benidorm' actor after speculation about her infidelity with party planner Lincoln Townley, and she revealed on TV panel show 'Loose Women' the couple ended their 23-year marriage some time ago.

A tearful Denise said: 'I just want to say, this is going to be really difficult for me. 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 just wanted to thank everybody. Tim and I feel a sense of relief that we don't have to hide this anymore. We've actually become better friends since we've made the decision. We're all just going to move forward as a family. Tim and I are still going to be co-parents and we love each other very much.'

She added her children Matthew, 22 and Louis, 10, were keen for her to reveal the news on the show for which she is famous.

Denise said: 'The kids love us very much, they wanted me to do this today because if you do it via a newspaper or a magazine they can choose their headlines.'

When the audience applauded, fellow panellist Sherrie Hewson praised her bravery.

She said: 'You are very brave and very honest. Well done, over, onwards, upwards. You and Tim are very happy. It's a relief.'