Denise Welch facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Denise Welch
Welch in 2011
Born	Jacqueline Denise Welch (1958-05-22) 22 May 1958 (age 67) Tynemouth, England
Occupation	Actress television personality writer
Years active	1981–present
Employer	ITV BBC Channel 4
Spouse(s)	David Easter ​ ​ (m. 1983; div. 1988)​ Tim Healy ​ ​ (m. 1988; div. 2012)​ Lincoln Townley ​ (m. 2013)​
Children	2, including Matty Healy

Jacqueline Denise Welch (born 22 May 1958) is a well-known English actress, TV personality, and writer. She has starred in many popular TV shows.

Some of her most famous roles include Natalie Barnes in the soap opera Coronation Street (1997–2000). She also played Steph Haydock in Waterloo Road (2006–2010). More recently, she was Trish Minniver in Hollyoaks (2021–2022).

Denise is also a regular on the TV chat show Loose Women. She was on the show from 2005 to 2013 and returned in 2018. She has also appeared in dramas like Spender (1991–1993) and Soldier Soldier (1993–1995). In 2011, she competed on Dancing on Ice. The next year, in 2012, she won Celebrity Big Brother.

Early Life and Education

Denise Welch was born in Tynemouth, England, on May 22, 1958. Her family were confectioners, meaning they made sweets. She has a younger sister named Debbie.

Denise went to Bygate School and La Sagesse School. When she was 13, her family moved to Ebchester, where she attended Blackfyne Grammar School. She discovered her love for acting at 14. This happened after she was in a school play called Finian's Rainbow.

At 17, her father and drama teacher suggested she apply to a drama school. She got into the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London. She graduated in 1979.

Acting Career

Denise Welch began her acting career after finishing drama school. She performed on stage in London in 1983. She also joined the Live Theatre Company in Newcastle upon Tyne. There, she acted in many plays, including Grease in 1984.

Her first TV appearance was in Barriers in 1981. She then appeared in Auf Wiedersehen, Pet (1986). She also had roles in the children's show Byker Grove (1990–1991). She worked with actor Jimmy Nail in the BBC show Spender (1991–1993).

Becoming a Household Name

In 1993, Denise became very well-known. She was cast as Marsha Stubbs in the ITV drama Soldier Soldier. This show made her a familiar face to many viewers.

In 1997, she gained even more fame. She joined the long-running soap opera Coronation Street. She played Natalie Horrocks, a character who became the landlady of The Rovers Return pub. Denise left the show in 2000. She wanted to spend time with her new baby and explore other acting opportunities.

Later TV Roles

After Coronation Street, Denise continued to act in many TV shows. She appeared in Where the Heart Is and Holby City in 2002. She also guest-starred in The Bill and Doctors.

From 2006 to 2010, she played French teacher Steph Haydock in Waterloo Road. This was a popular school-based drama. She also appeared in an episode of Casualty in 2011. Denise is set to return to Waterloo Road in 2025.

In 2010, she performed with other members of Loose Women for Children in Need. They sang "The Promise" as "Nanas Aloud". This helped raise money for charity.

In 2016, Denise guest-starred in EastEnders. She played Alison Slater, the mother of Kyle Slater. Fans praised her performance in the show. In 2017, she appeared in the film Finding Fatimah. She also starred in a short film called Black Eyed Susan. This film won an award for Best Drama.

In 2018, she toured the UK in Calendar Girls: The Musical. In 2020, she appeared in the online series Dun Breedin. Her scenes were filmed at home due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023, she played Queen Elizabeth II in Diana: The Musical.

TV Presenting and Appearances

Denise Welch has also presented many TV shows. She hosted The Real DIY Show in 2000. She also presented Soap Fever for ITV2.

Since 2005, she has been a regular on Loose Women. In 1999, she appeared on Stars in Their Eyes as Petula Clark. She was also the subject of This Is Your Life in 1999.

In 2008, Denise appeared on a celebrity version of Who Wants to be a Millionaire. In 2009, she became the narrator for 10 Years Younger. She also taught for a week at her old secondary school for a BBC documentary.

Denise supports the children's charity Children North East. She makes appearances at events to help them. In 2010, she and her husband won money on All Star Mr & Mrs and donated it to the charity.

In 2011, Denise competed on Dancing on Ice with professional skater Matt Evers. They were voted out in the eighth week of the competition. In January 2012, she was a housemate on Celebrity Big Brother. She won the series, beating Frankie Cocozza in the final.

In 2013, she took part in the dancing show Stepping Out with her husband, Lincoln Townley. She returned to Loose Women in June 2018.

Personal Life

Denise Welch lives in Wilmslow, Cheshire. She has been married three times. Her first marriage was to actor David Easter.

She later met actor Tim Healy while working together. They married in 1988. They have two sons. Their eldest son, Matty Healy, born in 1989, is a member of the band The 1975. Their younger son, Louis Vincent, born in 2001, is an actor.

Denise and Tim Healy separated in 2012. Soon after, Denise announced she was dating her manager, Lincoln Townley. They got engaged in August 2012 and married in Portugal in July 2013.

Denise has openly spoken about her experiences with mental health. She has written books about her life. Her autobiography, Pulling Myself Together, was published in 2010. It became a best-seller. She has said that she feels much better about her mental health in her 50s.

Film and Television Roles

Film

Television

As Herself

Theatre Performances

Books Written by Denise Welch

Memoirs

• Pulling Myself Together (Pan, 2010) ISBN: 9780330513012
• Starting Over (Pan, 2012) ISBN: 9781447222484
• The Unwelcome Visitor (Hodder and Stoughton, 2020) ISBN: 9780330513012

Novels

• If They Could See Me Now (Sphere, 2016) ISBN: 9780751562323
• The Mother's Bond (Sphere, 2018) ISBN: 9780751562378

See also

In Spanish: Denise Welch para niños

• List of Celebrity Big Brother (British TV series) housemates
• List of Dancing on Ice contestants