Denise: “Carol’s 22-year age gap with her toy boy is incredible!”
After returning to Loose Women with close pal Carol Mcgiffin, TV star Denise Welch opens up about how their younger partners make them feel sexier than ever
Following a five-year hiatus, iconic Loose Women Carol Mcgiffin and Denise Welch have recently returned to the panel, much to the delight of fans. But no one was more pleased to see Carol, 58 – who had a mastectomy three years ago during her battle with breast cancer – back on TV than her close pal Denise, 60. She tells Closer, “Carol’s great. She’s fit and well and looks better than ever! We’re great friends and go back a long way.”
Carol made her return to the show two weeks ago, where she revealed the results of her new face lift, and added that she wants more surgery later this year. But as she focuses on her new life, Denise – who is married to artist Lincoln Townley, 15 years her junior – is in awe of Carol’s relationship with her toyboy fiancé, Mark Cassidy, 36.
Denise says, “Most of my best friends have younger men, but Carol is knocking the spots off all of us with Mark and their 22 years. Incredible! I do think having a younger guy probably keeps me young. Also, Lincoln likes older women. It’s always other people who think about our age difference. He loves me, and he tells me I am beautiful every single day. I don’t feel I’m bad for an old bird. I still feel sexy and my husband thinks I am, too, and he’s a 45-year-old virile man.”
CONFIDENT IN THE BEDROOM
Denise – who was previously married to actor Tim Healy, with whom she has sons Matty, 29, and Louis, 17 – met Lincoln in 2010 and they married three years later.
Earlier this year, she told Closer, “Sex is supposed to be better than ever in your 60s – I’m not afraid to tell my partner what I want. When you’re young, you don’t want to speak out so much. I was more of a people pleaser, but now I’m not!”
And Denise says she won’t let her age define who she is or how she behaves, and celebrated her 60th in May with a big party.
She says, “I decided I would do lots of little things. Obviously, my husband took me out for dinner and spoilt me. I also had a tea party for about 30 very close family and friends. Then I went to LA and I shared a party with a friend in a great big beautiful house with its own pool. I have lots of friends out there – mostly gay men, of course – and my friend Lesley Nicol [Mrs Patmore in Downton Abbey], and my close pal Ross King came too. It was fabulous. It’s been the birthday that just keeps giving. I said to Lincoln, ‘Don’t worry, I won’t be having another year like this until I’m 70, so you have ten years to save up for the next one!’”
It’s a distinct turnaround for Denise, who has been open about her battle with alcohol and depression over the years. After quitting alcohol in 2012, the 5ft 4 actress turned to sugary treats and gained 2st, but after following the Lighter Life 5:2 fast plan and undergoing cognitive behavioural therapy, she’s now a size 12 and happier than ever.
She says, “I spent a lot of years being down a very dark road, and it took me a