Loose Women star Denise Welch pulls out of upcoming job over 'ill health'

Loose Women star Denise Welch has withdrawn from her role in an upcoming pantomime amid ongoing concerns for her health.

The 66-year-old Tynemouth-born actress was set to star in a Christmas rendition of Peter Pan alongside TV fashion expert Gok Wan, comedian Paul Chuckle and several other famous faces.

But yesterday, the Nottingham Theatre Royal announced that Denise is no longer playing the role of Captain Hook, with musical theatre star Richard Winsor now among the cast. Its Instagram statement read: "Attending Peter Pan this year? We're sorry to announce that Denise Welch will no longer be performing in this year's pantomime due to ill health.

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"We send Denise our warmest wishes, and hope she feels better very soon." The pantomime update comes less than a month after Denise told the Loose Women audience that she had not 'been well', with an 'unwelcome visitor' paying her a visit.

The TV star was talking about depression, which she summarised as an ongoing sadness. "Yeah, so I had a really rough two weeks, which I'm still in a bit," she explained in a recent ITV episode, according to the Mirror.

"I just did a podcast and a big article saying how I've been free for five years of clinical depression. Sadly, the unwelcome visitor paid me another visit, so I've not been well for a couple of weeks."

Later, she also added: "I just wanted to come on here because what I need when I'm poorly, I need for my friends to just know that I need time to get well."