Denise Welch made her festival debut at Mighty Hoopla this weekend, delivering a surprise performance that left the crowd roaring. The 68-year-old actress and Loose Women star took to the stage at 6pm in a black sequined all-in-one suit, performing a special rendition of It's Raining Men alongside male dancers and Sink The Pink artists.
During the performance, Welch paid a moving tribute to her late father, Vin, who died in September 2021. She told the audience that her dad was a heterosexual drag act who performed under the name Raquel in Whitley Bay. Recalling her childhood, she said: 'When I was at drama school, and all the other kids were being taken to McDonald's, I was being taken to the Black Cap in Camden Town.'
The actress, from Tynemouth, also expressed her love for the LGBTQ+ community, saying: 'You welcomed me into your hearts many years ago... As an ally, we are going to fight to get things to where they should be.' Welch is often seen supporting her son, Matty Healy, lead singer of The 1975, at festivals like Glastonbury, but this was her first time performing herself.
Fans and celebrities alike praised the performance. Loose Women co-star Brenda Edwards wrote: 'I wish I had been there to see this,' while Andrea McLean added fire emojis. Frankie Bridge said she was 'gutted' to miss it, and Dannii Minogue commented: 'This emotion!' Moments after leaving the stage, Welch was seen overcome with emotion.
When asked about a potential appearance on Strictly Come Dancing, Welch told The Sun: 'I'm pleading the fifth on that one!'
