Denise Welch has candidly discussed the lifelong impact of maths anxiety, emphasising that it is “never too late” to rebuild confidence with numbers. The actress, Loose Women panellist, and National Numeracy Ambassador is currently enjoying what fans describe as a career “renaissance.”
A Personal and Professional Renewal
Speaking during a special Big Number Natter conversation for National Numeracy ahead of National Numeracy Day, Denise reflected on a period of personal and professional renewal. At 68, she has made headlines for striking red-carpet appearances, magazine features, and renewed energy across television and entertainment. She jokingly attributes this transformation to finally having “a team.”
However, behind the glamorous exterior, Denise insists the deeper change has been about mindset. “I think it’s never too late to do anything,” she said. “I’m always talking about flipping the narrative in your head. Instead of ‘Oh my God, I’m nearly 70,’ it’s ‘I’m going to be 70 and that’s fantastic.’”
Maths Anxiety: A Lifelong Struggle
Denise revealed that anxiety around maths began in childhood and persisted throughout adulthood, affecting jobs, money management, pensions, and tax. “Anything to do with finances would literally make me either physically or metaphorically go, ‘la, la, la, la, la,’” she admitted. She recalled feeling physically ill before double maths lessons at school: “I’d been in the toilet and vomited before at school because I could see double maths coming up. The fear was real.”
She also described avoiding cash machines to evade seeing her balance and relying heavily on others for financial matters. “It’s completely held me back as to where I should have been financially,” she said. “If I didn’t have Lincoln, I would be in a desperately, desperately vulnerable, sad situation. I wish that I’d done something before so that I hadn’t become so reliant on my husband to help me with the basics.”
Building Confidence with National Numeracy
Through her work with National Numeracy, Denise is learning that improving number confidence is not about becoming “a maths wizard,” but about building practical skills and reducing fear. “No one is expecting you to become a maths wizard,” she explained. “But you can learn some techniques and basic skills to help you get through life.”
She drew parallels between her renewed professional confidence and her changing relationship with numeracy, stating that both stem from refusing to believe that growth has an age limit. “It’s never ever too late to improve in all areas of your life,” she said. “Being involved with National Numeracy has given me a bit more confidence in that area.”
The Scale of the Issue
National Numeracy estimates that around half of working-age adults in the UK have numeracy levels expected of primary school children, impacting finances, health, and career progression. Sam Sims, CEO of National Numeracy, praised Denise’s honesty for challenging the shame around maths anxiety. “Denise’s story resonates so strongly because people see themselves in it. Her renaissance is such a powerful example of the fact that growth, confidence and learning don’t stop at any age. Whether it’s fashion, career, mental health or numeracy, it’s never too late to make positive changes. The Numeracy Challenge, our free online learning tool is a great place to start, for anybody who lacks confidence with numbers.”
A Message for All Ages
As a grandmother, Denise is especially passionate about helping younger generations avoid the fear and shame around maths that she experienced. “I’d like to approach helping my grandson with confidence instead of sweaty palms,” she said. She also had a message for adults who feel embarrassed about struggling with numbers: “Nobody is judging you. National Numeracy exists to help people like us, not to test us or make us feel stupid.”
National Numeracy urges anyone who feels overwhelmed by numbers to search for the Numeracy Challenge online. The free tool helps improve confidence in maths at a pace and level that adapts to each individual user.
