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.
Denise Van Outen has revealed she relies on dating apps to meet men as finding potential suitors is harder since moving to the countryside
The presenter, 50, has been single since splitting from Jimmy Barba (pictured) in October 2023 and joined exclusive dating app Raya last year in the hopes of finding love again
‘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.
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 said being a single mother to her daughter Betsy, 14 – who she shares with ex-husband Lee Mead – makes it harder to meet new people as she can’t go out at night.
Even when she is out DJing, Denise said she is ‘in and out’ of the venue and ‘doesn’t hang around’, lessening her chance of sparking up a romance with anyone there.
She is seemingly keen to get back into the dating pool again after revealing she wasn’t ‘fussed’ about being in a relationship last year.
While she has been on a few dates, she said she wasn’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.
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 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
‘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, admitting that was the ‘sad part’ of the break-up.
Denise said she was ‘back to square one’ but was trying to keep a ‘positive outlook’ and ‘have an open heart’.
After her devastating split from Eddie, Denise found love again with Jimmy Barba in July 2022, but they split after 18 months together.
‘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’
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.
A look back at Denise Van Outen’s love life
Jay Kay (1998-2001)
Denise, who narrates The Only Way Is Essex, dated Jamiroquai lead singer Jay Kay, 52, for three years from 1998 to 2001.
The TV personality, 47, enjoyed a highly-publicised relationship with the Jamiroquai bandmember, 52, before they ‘painfully’ called it quits back in 2001.
Denise even wrote about him in her new autobiography A Bit Of Me, and he claimed they called off their plans to marry due to ‘conflicting’ jobs at the time.
The ex files: The star, who narrates The Only Way Is Essex, dated Jamiroquai lead singer Jay Kay, 52, for three years from 1998 to 2001 (pictured in 1998)
Nick Moran (2001)
After Jay, there was a brief rebound fling with Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels actor Nick Moran.
One onlooker observed of one of their date nights: ‘They were like a pair of magnets – stuck together all night. They were kissing and cuddling like love-struck kids.’
Yet their relationship wasn’t meant to be and the two stars split up shortly after they first began dating.
Former flame: After Jay, there was a brief rebound fling with Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels actor Nick Moran
Richard Traviss (2003-2005)
Following this, Denise dated nightclub owner Richard Traviss from 2003 until 2005, with the couple even becoming engaged during their romance.
During their relationship the couple were hit by cheating claims when a lapdancer penned a kiss and tell claiming to have slept with Richard in 2003 – claims that he and Denise denied.
Despite this the couple called it quits two years later but on good terms, with Denise telling ES Magazine: ‘We’re still talking and we’re still great mates.’
Past romance: Denise dated nightclub owner Richard Traviss from 2003 until 2005, with the couple even becoming engaged during their romance (pictured in 2004)
Lee Mead (2007-2013)
Denise first walked down the aisle to wed her daughter Betsy’s father Lee Mead, 40, however they separated four years later in 2013.
Denise married Lee in the Seychelles in 2009, after meeting on the 2007 TV show Any Dream Will Do where she was a judge and he was a contestant. They welcomed Betsy in 2010.
Denise confirmed they had parted ways in June 2013 – just six months after being named the runner-up on Strictly’s tenth series.
Former flame: Denise first walked down the aisle to wed her daughter Betsy’s father Lee, 40, in 2009, however they separated in 2013 (pictured in 2010)
Eddie Boxshall (2015-2022)
Denise began dating commodities trader Eddie Boxshall in 2015 and while the couple were never formally engaged they had announced they planned to marry.
She split from Eddie in January 2022 after he was caught having phone sex with other women, with Eddie later admitting he sent up to 20 sext messages behind Denise’s back.
Eddie said he feels ashamed and ‘deeply regrets’ sending the messages and said he contacted his presenter ex-girlfriend many times to apologise but she did not want to reconcile their relationship.
It’s all over: Denise began dating commodities trader Eddie Boxshall in 2015 and while the couple were never formally engaged they had announced they planned to marry, splitting in 2022 (pictured in 2015)