Denise Van Outen pens autobiography in lockdown

Denise Van Outen has revealed she used the coronavirus lockdown to write her autobiography.

The actor and presenter, 46, said there were things she “needed to address” for herself so she decided to get it done while COVID restrictions meant there were few places to go.

And penning her life story proved to be “cathartic”, she told the Mirror.

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Van Outen said: "It’s been nice to revisit all of my youth and the 90s and there’s a lot of things in there that I needed to address for myself and to speak out about too... some situations, but yeah there’s a few little surprises in there.

"It’s been quite cathartic as well and I surprised myself how much I remember. I never thought I’d be able to but it’s amazing when you sit down how many feelings and emotions come running back and you get transported back to that time.”

Van Outen - who is mum to 11-year-old daughter Betsy - said she had managed to fit a lot into her 46 years and that recalling some of the things she had got up to in order to write her book had made her “chuckle”.

She is planning to release the finished product later this year.

The star is known for shows including The Big Breakfast, EastEnders and The Bill and has appeared on stage in productions such as Chicago and Tell Me On A Sunday.

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Van Outen is also no stranger to reality TV, having competed on shows such as The Masked Singer and Strictly Come Dancing.

She was also a contestant on the last series of Dancing On Ice but was forced to pull out after injuring her shoulder.

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