Denise Welch | |
|---|---|
 Welch in 2011 | |
| Born | Jacqueline Denise Welch (1958-05-22)22 May 1958 (age 66) Tynemouth, England |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1981–present |
| Employers | |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2, includingMatty Healy |
Jacqueline Denise Welch (born 22 May 1958) is an English actress, television personality, writer and broadcaster.[1] Her roles includeNatalie Barnes inCoronation Street (1997–2000), Steph Haydock inWaterloo Road (2006–2010 2025), and Trish Minniver inHollyoaks (2021–2022). Welch also appears as a regular panellist on theITV chat showLoose Women (2005–2013, 2018–present).
Welch's other acting roles include the television dramasSpender (1991–1993),Soldier Soldier (1993–1995), andDown to Earth (2004–2005). In 2011, she was a contestant on thesixth series ofDancing on Ice, where she was partnered with professional skaterMatt Evers. In 2012, Welch won theninth series ofCelebrity Big Brother.
Jacqueline Denise Welch was born inTynemouth on 22 May 1958[2] to a family of confectioners.[3] She has a younger sister, Debbie.[4][5] Welch attended Bygate School inWhitley Bay, andLa Sagesse School inNewcastle upon Tyne,[6] before moving toEbchester,County Durham at the age of 13, where she attendedBlackfyne Grammar School inConsett and passed fiveGCE exams.[2][7][8][9] She developed a penchant for acting at the age of 14 after being cast in a school production ofFinian's Rainbow. At the age of 17, she contemplated going to a teacher training college inCrewe;[2] however, her father and her drama teacher suggested she apply for theMountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London. Welch was successful in her application, and graduated in 1979, gaining herEquity card while teaching dance at theWatford Palace Theatre.[5][7]
Welch became an actress straight after leaving school, aged 12.[5] She was formally trained atMountview Theatre School between 1976 and 1979.[10]
She performed on stage in London inYakkety-Yak with theMcGann brothers at theAstoria Theatre in 1983, and later joined theLive Theatre Company,Newcastle, where she featured in many productions, includingThere's a Girl in My Soup, and anAlan Ayckbourn quartet of plays, includingBedroom Farce. She also played the role of Sandy in the musicalGrease at theHaymarket Theatre,Leicester, in 1984.[7]
Her first television appearance was in theTyne Tees Television productionBarriers in 1981.[7] A few years later, she appeared in ITV's hit dramaAuf Wiedersehen, Pet (1986), following this with roles in the children's television showByker Grove (1990–1991),A Kind of Living (1988), theCatherine Cookson adaptationThe Glass Virgin (1995), and appearing oppositeJimmy Nail in BBC'sSpender (1991–1993).[5]
In 1993, Welch became a household name when she was cast as Marsha Stubbs inITV's drama seriesSoldier Soldier. Owing to her success in the series, she released a double-A side single in 1995, coupling "You Don't Have to Say You Love Me" (a cover of theDusty Springfield hit) with "Cry Me a River" (a standard popularised byJulie London), which reached number 23 in theUK Singles Chart.[7]
Welch gained even wider notability in 1997, when she was cast asNatalie Horrocks in the long-running ITVsoap operaCoronation Street.[5] Natalie was introduced as a divorcee who soon became the mistress ofKevin Webster (played byMichael Le Vell), the husband ofSally Webster. Kevin and Sally were one of the show's longest-running couples, and had two children.[11] Originally portrayed as afemme fatale, Natalie rose to respectability by becoming landlady of the soap's famous public house,The Rovers Return.[12] In 2000, theCoronation Street producers wanted Welch to perform a storyline involving Natalie having a miscarriage, but she refused, saying that the character had already lost her husband and son. However, Welch, who was expecting a baby the same year, decided to leave the serial. At the time, Welch commented, "I am looking forward to being a mum again and spending some time with my baby and am relishing the prospect of new challenges in my career." A spokesperson forGranada TV commented, "The character [Natalie] will be gone as she moves to somewhere new, we wish Denise well both for the birth of her baby and for her future career."[13]
In 2002, Welch guest-starred in ITV'sWhere the Heart Is, and theBBC's hospital dramaHolby City, playing risk manager Pam McGrath, who conducted an on-screen relationship with the character Mubbs Hussein (played byIan Aspinall). She guest-starred twice in ITV's long-running police dramaThe Bill (in 1997 and 2006), and has also appeared in the BBC'sDoctors (2004),Down to Earth (2004–2005) andBorn and Bred (2002–2003). Welch starred (with second billing) in the British feature filmThe Jealous God (2005) andHollyoaks: In the City (2006), amongst other appearances. From 2006 to 2010, she appeared as French teacher Steph Haydock in the successfulBBC One school-based drama seriesWaterloo Road, and played Janet "Goldie" Gold in an episode called "Rogue" of the long-runningmedical drama series,Casualty, which aired on 2 July 2011.[14][15]
Welch originally won the role of Frances Myers inBad Girls, but ended up declining it owing to illness at the time; her futureWaterloo Road co-starEva Pope received the part instead.[16][17] Welch leftWaterloo Road without intending to return forSeries six, but eventually decided to come back for episodes nine and ten.[18][19] Welch is set to reprise her role of Steph Haydock for the Series 16 ofWaterloo Road in 2025.[20]
Via the BenidormTweetsTwitter feed, it was revealed that Welch would have a part inSeries 4 ofBenidorm.[21] She played the part of 'Scary' Mary, alongside her then-husband,Tim Healy.[22] In the episode ofBenidorm, she ends up engaging in a fight withSheila Reid'sMadge.
In 2010, along with other members of the showLoose Women, she performedGirls Aloud's hit song "The Promise" forChildren in Need under the name Nanas Aloud. The performance helped contribute to the total sum that year of £18.2 million.[23]
In 2012, Welch played Truvy in the touring production ofSteel Magnolias.[24] The following year, she played the part of Catherine Robinson in Richard Bean'sSmack Family Robinson at theRose Theatre inKingston.[25]
On 25 March 2016, it was announced that Welch would guest star inEastEnders asAlison Slater, the estranged mother ofKyle Slater (Riley Carter Millington) and secret stepmother ofStacey Slater (Lacey Turner). Of her casting, Welch stated: "I'm so thrilled to be part of such an iconic show; it's so exciting! I have several friends on the show and it's a great crowd so I can't wait to get started. It's a short stint but such a powerful role and I'm thrilled to be taking this on."[26] Welch made her initial appearance as Alison on 3 May 2016, with fans praising her performance and insisting she was given a permanent role in the soap.[27]
In 2017, Welch appeared as Valerie in the romantic comedy filmFinding Fatimah.[28] Welch starred inBlack Eyed Susan, alongside son Louis, a short film which details Welch's own experience with depression.[29] The film won the Best Drama Award at that year's Silicon Beach Film Awards.[30]
In January 2018, it was announced that Welch would play Celia in the UK touring production ofCalendar Girls: The Musical.[31]
In May 2020, Welch appeared as Doll Belvedere in the online seriesDun Breedin, written by and starringJulie Graham alongsideAngela Griffin,Alison Newman,Tracy-Ann Oberman andTamzin Outhwaite in leading roles. Due to thelockdown imposed because of theCOVID-19 pandemic, Welch's scenes were filmed in her own home, and the series also starred her husband,Lincoln Townley, as Doll's husband Zoot.[32][33]
In 2023, Welch played the lateQueen Elizabeth II inDiana: The Musical.[34]
Welch has presented numerous television shows, and also appeared in a series ofSCS adverts promoting soft furnishings. She hosted her ownDIY seriesThe Real DIY Show in 2000 andSoap Fever forITV2. In 2001, she appeared onLily Savage's Blankety Blank.[35] Since 2005, she has been a regular panellist on ITV's topical lunchtime chat showLoose Women. In 1999, she appeared asPetula Clark in ITV's celebrity singing contestStars in Their Eyes.[36][37]
She was the subject ofThis Is Your Life in 1999, when she was surprised byMichael Aspel atPiccadilly Station inManchester.[38]
In 2008, Welch appeared on a celebrity version ofWho Wants to be a Millionaire along withFalklands War heroSimon Weston. In 2009, Welch took over as narrator of the revamped series of10 Years Younger, forChannel 4. She also participated inPlaying the Part, a documentary onBBC One on 21 May 2009, in which she went back to her old secondary school, Consett Community Sports College, and taught there for a week.[39]
Welch shows her support for the children's charity,Children North East which is based in Newcastle, by making appearances at events and supporting community-based projects. In April 2010, Welch appeared with her husband Tim onITV'sAll Star Mr & Mrs and donated their runner-up prize of £5,000 to Children North East. She has also appeared in the biannual benefit concertSunday for Sammy, parodying the showLoose Women as "Slack Lasses".[40]
Welch guest presented theITV Breakfast programmeLorraine in November 2010. Beginning on 9 January 2011, Welch participated in thesixth series ofDancing on Ice onITV with her skating partner, American professional ice skaterMatt Evers, who partneredZoe Salmon andHeather Mills in previous series. On the eighth week of the show, which was broadcast on 6 March 2011, she and Evers were the seventh couple to be voted out of the competition after losing the skate-off to army soldier,Johnson Beharry.[41]
In January 2012, Welch was a housemate inCelebrity Big Brother onChannel 5 in the UK. She went on to win the series, beatingFrankie Cocozza in the final.[42]
In 2013, she participated in the ITV dancing showStepping Out with husband Lincoln Townley.[43]
It is believed that Welch "walked out" ofLoose Women in October 2013 due to differences with the new director of ITV, Helen Warner.[44] Welch returned to the show in June 2018.[45]
She appeared on the 2013 Christmas special ofThrough the Keyhole, hosted byKeith Lemon.[46]
In early September 2020, Welch appeared onThis Morning claiming in her interview withEamonn Holmes andRuth Langsford that the media and the authorities are "fear-mongering" over theCOVID-19 pandemic.[47] She had a disagreement onTwitter withPiers Morgan overCOVID-19 infection rates. Morgan called her "deluded" and "dangerous" after her appearance onThis Morning.[48]
Welch resides inWilmslow,Cheshire.[49][50] Her first marriage was to actorDavid Easter, lasting from 1983 until their divorce in 1988; Welch has since gone public with her belief that he committedadultery.[51] Welch metTim Healy while they were working together for Newcastle'sLive Theatre Company. They married inHaringey, London, in 1988 and have two sons:Matty Healy (b. 8 April 1989,Hendon, London), who is a member of the alternative rock bandThe 1975, and Louis Vincent (b. 2 March 2001,Salford), who is an actor.[5]
Welch announced, live onLoose Women on 6 February 2012, that she and Healy were separated and that they had been for a long time. Shortly after that, Welch announced that she was dating her PR manager,Lincoln Townley. In August 2012, it was revealed that she and Townley were engaged.[52] On 13 July 2013, they married in Portugal.[53][54]
Welch confessed that her marriage was nearly ruined because of hermental illness, as well as an affair she had during her depression. With the help of her formerCoronation Street co-starKevin Kennedy, she attendedAlcoholics Anonymous and suggests this helped her end her dependency on alcohol. In April 2010, her 320-page autobiographyPulling Myself Together was published, in which she describes how she overcame her problems with alcohol, drugs and depression. It became a best-seller in the UK.[2]
In a February 2015 interview, she said that she felt "freer from my mental health issues in my 50s than I did in my 30s and 40s".[55]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Jealous God | Maureen | Supporting role |
| 2008 | Sunday for Sammy | Slack Lass | |
| 2009 | A Bit of Tom Jones? | Delilah | |
| 2017 | Finding Fatimah | Valerie | Main role |
| Black Eyed Susan | The Woman | Short film | |
| 2019 | Burning Men | Julie | Supporting role |
| 2020 | Love Sarah | Elizabeth | Main role |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Barriers | Janet Tompkinson | Series 2: Episode 4 |
| 1986 | Auf Wiedersehen, Pet | Jean | Episode: "Marjorie Doesn't Live Here Anymore" |
| 1988 | A Kind of Living | Jane | Series 2: Episode 6 |
| 1989 | And a Nightingale Sang | Girl at Dance | Television film |
| 1990–1991 | Byker Grove | Polly Bell | Recurring role; 7 episodes |
| 1991 | New Voices | Unknown | Episode: "The Godmother" |
| 1991–1993 | Spender | Frances Spender | Main role; 14 episodes |
| 1993 | Harry | Valerie | Series 1: Episode 4 |
| Come Snow, Come Blow | Unknown | Television film | |
| 1993–1995 | Soldier Soldier | Marsha Stubbs | Main role; 26 episodes |
| 1995 | The Glass Virgin | Jessie | Miniseries; 2 episodes |
| 1997 | The Bill | Sheila Hayman | Episode: "Breaking Up" |
| See You Friday | Vanessa | All 6 episodes | |
| 1997–2000 | Coronation Street | Natalie Barnes | Regular role; 489 episodes |
| 2002 | The Vice | Clara King | Episode: "No Man's Land" |
| Breeze Block | Policewoman | Episode: "Saturday, Sinday" | |
| Holby City | Pam McGrath | Recurring role; 5 episodes | |
| Where the Heart Is | Linda Sargent | Episode: "Extra Time" | |
| 2002–2003 | Born and Bred | Edie McClure | Episodes: "Nothing Like the Son" and "Fertility Rites" |
| 2003 | The Afternoon Play | Carol Haye | Episode: "Turkish Delight" |
| 2004 | Doctors | Jane Howard | Episodes: "Two Can Play: Parts 1 & 2" |
| 2004–2005 | Down to Earth | Jackie Murphy | Main role; 18 episodes |
| 2006 | The Bill | Elaine Wallace | Episode: "Better the Devil You Know" |
| Hollyoaks: In the City | D.C.I. Fisher | 2 episodes | |
| 2006–2010, 2025 - | Waterloo Road | Steph Haydock | Regular role; 79 episodes |
| 2011 | Benidorm | "Scary" Mary | Series 4: Episode 1 |
| Casualty | Janet "Goldie" Gold | Episode: "Rogue" | |
| Bloody Norah | Mum | Television film | |
| 2012 | Loserville | Susan Lewis | |
| 2015 | Doctors | Judith Whitney | Episode: "Oh What a Tangled Web..." |
| Inspector George Gently | Susan | Episode: "Gently with the Women" | |
| 2015–2016 | Boy Meets Girl | Pam McDonald | All 12 episodes |
| Holby City | Linda Bradshaw | Episodes: "Cover Story" and "A Friend in Need" | |
| 2016 | EastEnders | Alison Slater | Episode 5276 |
| Doctors | Denise Brown | Episode: "A Christmas Treat" | |
| 2018 | Different for Girls | Maeve | Episode: "The whole story" |
| 2020 | Class Dismissed | Pam Travers | Episodes: "Snake!" and "Key Stage 3 Rules" |
| Dun Breedin | Doll Belvedere | Online series; all 9 webisodes | |
| 2021–2022 | Hollyoaks | Trish Minniver | Regular role; 95 episodes |
| 2022 | Dead Canny | Angela | Episode: "Pilot" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Celebrity Stars in Their Eyes | Herself | Contestant |
| Soap Fever | Presenter | ||
| 2000 | The Real DIY Show | Presenter | |
| 2000–2002, 2005–2013, 2018–present | Loose Women | Regular panellist | Guest (2000) Guest panellist (2001–2002) Relief presenter (2006–2010, 2012, 2024) |
| 2008 | Who Wants to be a Millionaire | Herself | Contestant |
| 2009 | 10 Years Younger | Narrator | |
| Playing the Part | Participant | ||
| 2010 | All Star Mr & Mrs | Contestant | |
| Lorraine | Guest presenter | ||
| 2011 | Dancing on Ice | Contestant | |
| 2012 | Celebrity Big Brother | Housemate | Winner |
| Piers Morgan's Life Stories | Herself | Guest | |
| The Chase: Celebrity Special | Contestant | ||
| 2013 | Tipping Point: Lucky Stars | Contestant | |
| Stepping Out | |||
| Through the Christmas Keyhole | Celebrity Homeowner | ||
| The Cube: Celebrity Special | Contestant |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Yakkety-Yak | Rita | Astoria Theatre |
| 1984 | Grease | Sandy | Haymarket Theatre |
| 1985 | There's a Girl in My Soup | Claire | Live Theatre, Newcastle |
| 1986 | Bedroom Farce | Delia | |
| 1995 | Shooting the Legend | Various | Theatre Royal, Newcastle |
| 2001–2002 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Fairy | |
| 2004–2005 | Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs | Wicked Queen | Stockport Plaza |
| 2006–2007 | Cinderella | Fairy | Darlington Civic |
| 2012–2013 | Royal & Derngate, Northampton | ||
| 2017 | The Wind in the Willows | Mrs Otter | London Palladium |
| 2017–2018 | Jack and the Beanstalk | Fairy | Times Square, Newcastle |
| 2018–2019 | Calendar Girls | Celia | UK tour |
| Preceded by | Celebrity Big Brother UK Winner Series 9 (2012) | Succeeded by |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
