Denise Van Outen admits that very few people ever see her 'vulnerable side'

Watch: Denise Van Outen and Eddie Boxshall meet psychotherapist, in their new podcast, Before We Say I Do...

On TV, Denise Van Outen comes across as a cheeky, self-assured Essex girl, but beneath that brassy exterior lies a much more vulnerable side.

Speaking on her podcast Before We Say I Do, the Dancing On Ice star said the other side of her is much more vulnerable.

“People don't see it with me, because of the sort of personality I am,” she said.

“I know what I come across like in media and TV. I do come across as a really ballsy, independent and that is one side of me. But there is another side of me that is the person that, does ring my dad or ask Eddie for help with things.”

Listen: Eddie Boxshall explains why he struggled to initially move in with Denise Van Outen

Van Outen was chatting to psychotherapist Keeley Taverner as part of her new podcast with partner Eddie Boxshall. In the episode, the pair bring up their gripes about one another, as Taverner encourages them to listen to each other.

For Boxshall, he hates when the West End star constantly checks up on whether he’s doing all the things she’s asked him to do!

Read more: Denise Van Outen: 'I really felt my age' competing in Dancing On Ice

“That's my biggest bugbear that she can't just sit back and just say something once,” he admitted, saying even bringing it up was making him feel stressed!

He continued: “Denise is the kind of person that wants to do everything. If Denise could do everything, if it was physically possible to do everything herself, she would do it... I think she's more man of the house than what I am!”

For Van Outen, who describes herself as a “very independent person” the undone list of chores makes her feel a little too vulnerable.

“When I do ask for help, I feel like it's sort of thrown back in my face if I don't get the help,” she told the therapist.

“I have had to provide for myself and look after myself for a very long period of time, so if things get left and left and left, I think, ‘Well, I have shown a vulnerable side. I've asked for help, you haven't given it to me, so you've left me with no choice, but to just get the job done!’”

Read more: Denise Van Outen opens up about her love life: 'I’ve let work take over my relationship'

Admitting to her relationship history not being great, the Celebrity Gogglebox star says that due to her independent streak, she’s had to make herself even more vulnerable with previous partners, so has not to emasculate them.

“I'm very aware of the fact that any man I've ever gone out with I've have to be even more vulnerable, to make the male feel secure,” she explained.

“I do have to sometimes in certain situations take a bit more of a setback than other women do to make it even. It's not always a nice situation to be in as well, how it impacts my partner, who I'm with.”

The pair, who are hoping to get married once lockdown rules lifted, have been dating for seven years, which for Van Outen is her longest relationship yet.

One of the reasons she was so keen to try out different couples counselling for the podcast was to ensure that her and Boxshall don’t face any problems down the line

Read more: The technique that helped Denise Van Outen reconnect with partner Eddie Boxshall

“I've got to be honest, the seven years has flown by, but I want to be 100% sure that it's right,” she said.

“And I just don't want any problems further down the line. I don't think that my heart could take it... I think if you've been through a divorce, I wouldn't want to go through another one — it's horrible — but I would still like to be a married lady!”

Hear Denise Van Outen and Eddie Boxshall experience a psychotherapy session on the latest episode of Before We Say I Do. Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Watch: Denise Van Outen and Eddie Boxshall try out psychosexual therapy in the first episode of Before We Say I Do