Denise Van Outen, 51, has reflected on her career highs and lows as she prepares to take a new one-woman show across the UK. The Essex-born star shot to fame co-hosting The Big Breakfast with Johnny Vaughan between 1997 and 2001, and says the 1990s was her 'favourite decade for fun'.
Looking back on the chaotic morning show, Denise recalled a mix-up when L!VE TV guest Lionel Blair was mistakenly sent to their studio. 'We had a whole two-hour show of just trying to find things for Lionel to do,' she said.
Denise also revealed that she turned down a record deal from Simon Cowell after recording a cover of Especially For You with Johnny. 'At the time I was with Jay Kay, who was in Jamiroquai. I felt like, “Music’s his thing.” I don’t know why I said no really,' she admitted.
The star acknowledged low points, including the film Run For Your Wife, which she described as 'truly terrible', and the late-night game show Something For The Weekend, which she said 'took her out of the running for a lot of prime-time shows'. However, she bounced back by returning to theatre, playing Roxie Hart in Chicago in the West End and on Broadway.
'I had to almost reinvent myself after that,' Denise said of the game show. 'New doors always open.'
