Your round-up of this week’s biggest showbiz stories
WORDS: ARIANA LONGSON. PHOTOS: SHUTTERSTOCK, GETTY, INSTAGRAM @LOOSEWOMEN/@ITV/@YOLANDALIOU
Denise’sABUSE ORDEAL
Former Coronation Street star Denise Welch has bravely opened up about her past experience with domestic abuse.
As part of Loose Women’s awareness campaign Facing It Together, Denise, 65, revealed, ‘Many, many, many years ago I was in what I would call an emotionally abusive relationship.’ She continued, ‘It was never physical – but they are bruises that you just can’t see. It makes me shudder now to think that I put up with that for so long and getting out of that was the best thing that I ever did.’
Denise, who did not disclose the name of the former partner, added, ‘These people chip away at your personality. People have said to me that I can’t imagine you’d “put up with that”, but my personality was diminished.’
She also warned, ‘There is something in many of us that thinks we can change people. Unfortunately these leopards very rarely change their spots.’
Thankfully, these days Denise is in a happy relationship with her husband of 11 years Lincoln Townley, 51. Previously she was married to fellow actor Tim Healy, father of her two children Matty, 34, and Louis, 23, and the pair remain on good terms, even celebrating last Christmas together.
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CharleneSNUBS LORRAINE
Loose Women’s Charlene White appeared to take a swipe at fellow ITV colleague Lorraine Kelly when she revealed they weren’t good friends. Appearing on Would I Lie To You? The 43-year-old was telling a false story about the daytime TV veteran as part of the game. But when asked by host Rob Brydon if she was close friends with Loz, 64, Charlene replied, ‘Well I’ve been on her show a couple of times. I wouldn’t say that we’re besties.’ Then, when Rob added, ‘She’s lovely, isn’t she?’ Charlene didn’t answer. Awkward…
Katie’sNEW TV DEAL
TV presenter Katie Piper has landed a major new ITV contract. In a shake-up of the channel’s weekend morning schedule, the third series of Katie Piper’s Breakfast Show will now run on Saturdays as well as Sundays and extend to 22 episodes. It’s a big move for the 40-year-old Loose Women panellist, whose previous TV credits have mainly included documentaries. A source said, ‘It’s a massive sh
