Denise Van OutenDenise van Outen has confirmed the rumours that she’s seeing Any Dream Will Do winner, Lee Mead.

The couple met when Denise was a judge on the talent show but she insists that despite flirty comments, they didn’t start dating until well after that - and Lee’s three year relationship - ended.

She told the Sun: “I rarely spoke to Lee during the series. There is quite a divide between the judges and the contestants, you have to be professional.”

“Also, he had a girlfriend who was at the studio and I would never have gone there, I’m old fashioned like that. They were broken up for three months before anything happened between us.”

“[Then] Lee heard I was single, called and asked me out. It wasn’t really a date, we went with a group of friends, then things deepened.”

“We kept it quiet - but not that quiet. We were kissing and walking down the street holding hands. He was coming to see me on stage when I was in Rent.

“I couldn’t believe no one found out earlier.”

She added she can’t predict the future for their relationship but has high hopes: “I don’t know where this is going to take us, it’s such early days. Lee is seven years younger but that doesn’t bother me because I act so young and silly.”

“He’s a gentleman and so talented. We are very similar, we’re both from Essex and have working-class backgrounds.”

“And our parents are both still together - which I think does make a difference. So many blokes with divorced parents have commitment issues.”