Denise Van Outen enjoyed a family day out on Sunday after weeks of rumours of an impending split between her and husband Lee Mead. The TV personality posed for photos alongside her three-year-old daughter Betsy and her actor husband of four years. The smiling trio attended the Tickety Toc launch party at London's world-famous toy store Hamleys.
The mum-of-one was glamorous as ever in a bright patterned dress and metallic gladiator sandals which enhanced her sun-kissed glow. Adorable Betsy, dressed in a floral dress and pink cardigan, was every bit the daddy's girl as he held her tightly while they smiled for the cameras. Denise, 39, recently admitted that her marriage was under "massive strain".
Reports that the couple might be in trouble first surfaced when Denise was photographed holidaying on her own in Dubai over Easter. In April, she decided to publically address those rumours, revealing that their decision not to employ a nanny meant that she and Lee were forced to holiday separately. Although Denise said that she and Lee are still together, she has described their relationship of late as being "like passing ships in the night" because of their busy careers. "To be honest, it is really difficult. We just haven't seen each other," she told Now magazine. "I started on Strictly in September and we've been like passing ships in the night. I'm not going to lie, it's been a massive strain on the relationship."
Towards the end of 2012, Denise was busy rehearsing for the dance show, while singer-actor Lee, 31, was touring and performing in pantomime. This year, he has been busy travelling to Hollywood for auditions, while his wife has been on tour with Strictly and hosting her Magic FM radio show. "We haven't really spent any proper time together for six months," the mum-of-one said. "I'd say this has been the hardest few months out of all our time together." Denise and Lee first met while filming the BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do in 2007 and married in April 2009. Their daughter Betsy was born on 1 May 2010.
