West End star Lee Mead announces engagement to Issy Szumniak: ‘I can’t wait to spend forever together’

Lee Mead has announced his engagement to girlfriend Issy Szumniak on Instagram.

The West End star, 41, who won BBC musical talent competition Any Dream Will Do in 2007, shared a selfie with his other half on Sunday as she showed off her dazzling diamond ring.

The performer wrote: “So this happened today, and my beautiful Issy said yes. We’re both so happy and can’t wait to spend forever together.”

Mead, who shares 12-year-old daughter Betsy with his ex-wife Denise van Outen, 48, confirmed his romance with mother-of-one Ms Szumniak back in 2018.

The former Holby City and Casualty actor revealed that he fell for Ms Szumniak when he met her in a coffee shop after he picked his daughter up from school.

Speaking about their relationship in 2018, Mead told the Sun: “We got on really well, but it was a while before I plucked up the courage to ask her on a date.

“She’s a lovely woman and she’s a parent as well, which I think helps. She’s based in Kent and she’s not in the same business as me; I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing!

“I’m not one to rush into relationships and I was single for six years, but it’s nice to have found someone. We’ve been together just under a year and it’s going really well. We had a nice weekend together recently and we’re very happy.”

Mead was previously married to Van Outen after meeting on Any Dream Will Do on when she was a judge and he was a contestant.

The former couple married in 2009 in the Seychelles but parted ways four years later and were divorced in 2015.