Denise Van Outen has revealed she relies on dating apps to meet men as finding potential suitors has become harder since moving to the countryside.
The presenter, 50, has been single since splitting from Jimmy Barba in October 2023 and joined exclusive dating app Raya last year in the hopes of finding love again.
And in a new interview, she admitted that without dating app Raya, she wouldn’t have much of a love life as meeting guys ‘in real life’ is not as easy while living in rural Kent.
She told The Sun: ‘Actually, for me, dating apps are a really good thing. I don’t know how else I would meet people if I wasn’t doing that.’
‘When I was younger, there was the option to go out, but now I live in the country, it’s not like I’m able to just go to the pub,’ she added. ‘Even if I went to my local, they’re all my neighbours who I know anyway, so that’s of no value to me.’
Detailing how her only chance of meeting potential matches ‘in real life’ is online, she hinted that she has come across some celebrity suitors on exclusive dating app Raya.
‘I’m still on my Raya dating app, I’ve gone on quite a few dates with different people, I’ve seen so many celebrities [on Raya], but you aren’t allowed to say who is on there,’ she teased.
Denise Van Outen has revealed she relies on dating apps to meet men as finding potential suitors is harder since moving to the countryside
In a new interview, she admits that without the dating app, she wouldn’t have much of a love life as meeting guys ‘in real life’ is not as easy while living in rural Kent
The former Big Breakfast host noted that while it’s ‘really fun’ to use the app, she has awkwardly often found herself paired with one of her mates.
She said she hasn’t really been active on Raya over the winter months, but with summer fast approaching, she plans to change that, quipping: ‘Watch this space.’
The performer, who shares 14-year-old daughter Betsy with ex-husband Lee Mead, said it is crucial for her to have Raya as she would struggle to meet men otherwise.
Denise also notes that being a single mother to her teenage daughter means that she simply cannot go to the pub during the week to meet someone, with the app her only way of communicating with guys.
While she adds that with her DJ work, she’s ‘in and out’ of the venue and ‘doesn’t ‘hang around’, lessening her chance of sparking up a romance with a gig goer.
Despite Denise’s words about struggling to date, she previously told how she is ‘not fussed’ about being in a relationship right now.
While she has been on a few dates since, she isn’t putting pressure on herself to find a new partner because she’s very content with her own company these days.
Referencing the end of her engagement to Eddie Boxshall, who she split from in January 2022 after discovering he had been unfaithful, she told Fabulous magazine: ‘I’m not fussed either way now.
‘Now I live in the country, it’s not like I’m able to just go to the pub. Even if I went to my local, they’re all my neighbours who I know anyway, so that’s of no value to me’
The performer, who shares 14-year-old daughter Betsy with ex-husband Lee Mead went on to emphasis how crucial it is for her to have the app as she would struggle to meet men otherwise
‘Actually, for me, dating apps are a really good thing. I don’t know how else I would meet people if I wasn’t doing that’
‘I’m really good friends with Tamzin Outhwaite and we were saying: ‘Isn’t it nice to actually just be loving life and not feel pressured to have to be in a relationship or be with someone?’ I’ve learned to be on my own and be content.
‘This industry can feel pressurised, and then when things go wrong, it’s so public. You worry that people see you as a failure. I wonder if people say: ‘Why can’t she hold down a relationship? History keeps repeating itself, but I’m not chasing it now.’
She added that her relationship with Eddie only got cut short because of what she discovered he had done and that is the ‘sad part’ of the break up.
Denise said she is now ‘back to square one’ but is trying to keep a ‘positive outlook’ and ‘have an open heart’.
If she does find a new partner, the Celebrity Gogglebox star – who has 14-year-old daughter Betsy with ex-husband Lee Mead – will be keeping her relationship private for some time.
Denise found love again with Jimmy Barba in July 2022 following her devastating split from Eddie.
The 50-year-old presenter – who has been single since splitting from Jimmy Barba [pictured] in October 2023 – joined exclusive dating app Raya earlier this year
She ended her engagement to Eddie Boxshall (seen together) in January 2022 after discovering he had been unfaithful
Denise went public with property developer Jimmy, 55, that summer after her split from her love rat ex Eddie, who she was with for seven years.
She ended her relationship with the commodities trader in January 2022 after discovering unfaithful messages.
Eddie moved out of Denise’s home following their shock split and was thought to be staying with friends.
Six months later, she went public with Jimmy, who she met through All Saints singer Shaznay Lewis, at the Grand Prix Ball and the pair enjoyed their first holiday together after jetting to Marbella.
Read the full article here
