Loose Women panellist Denise Welch is booked and busy this year as she has teased her next career move following her success in Channel 4's thriller Tip Toe. The 68-year-old actress is returning to her North West roots, hinting at a fresh project after starring in the acclaimed drama.
Denise Welch's Television Career
Denise Welch is well-versed in television, having appeared in all four major British soaps. One of her most iconic roles was as Coronation Street's Rovers Return landlady Natalie Barnes from 1997 to 2000. Fans also recognise her as Steph Haydock in the hit BBC drama Waterloo Road, a role she reprised after a 15-year absence. Initially starring as Head Teacher, she returned as a supply teacher during a staffing crisis at the school.
Role in Tip Toe
Denise recently featured in Channel 4's new thriller Tip Toe, which centres on Leo and Clive, neighbours in Manchester for nearly 15 years. As life should be calming down, the environment around them grows increasingly volatile. Language becomes ammunition, viewpoints become extreme, and two neighbours slowly turn into mortal adversaries in a gripping suburban thriller that questions everything we regard as secure.
Denise portrays Diane, who appears in the third episode. Discussing her character, she explained: "Diane finds herself on her own at 67, but still with her needs and her desires. It's so important to see women in that way. We're so used to seeing the nana roles, forgetting that we still want to remain sexually active." Speaking to the Manchester Evening News on the red carpet, she added: "I'm only in it for one episode, episode three, the best one. I am a nana in real life and I love it, but we are so much more than that." She continued: "Manchester is my home, I've been welcomed on Canal Street from way back when I was in Coronation Street."
Denise also revealed that the series was produced with urgency, explaining: "It is needed right now and that's why everyone was rushing urgently so it would be ready for right now. No one knows how to have a conversation anymore... There's so many people I go, if I had a conversation with you then you'd understand. That's what we're missing."
New Project in Newcastle
Taking to Instagram, Denise offered a glimpse of her next project as she heads back to her North East roots, writing: "Loving working in Newcastle with @izzysorbs What a hoot!!" This follows the completion of filming on a new six-part Channel 5 series entitled Forever Home, which was also shot in the North East. The programme is due to air later this year and is adapted from one of Graham Norton's best-selling novels. The plot centres on a wife who makes a chilling discovery that leads her to suspect her husband may be a killer.
At the time, she said: "The north east will always be my Forever Home so to make a series there with this title was the perfect job for me. Filmed in beautiful Northumberland surrounded by Geordies was as good as it gets. Cast and crew, none of us wanted it to end. I hope you'll enjoy what we created as we're very proud of it."
Tip Toe is available to stream on Channel 4. Loose Women airs weekdays at 12:30pm on ITV and ITVX.
