Denise Welch

Actress, Writer, Broadcaster and Mental Health Advocate

Denise was born in Whitley Bay near Newcastle & started her career there at Live Theatre in Tom Hadaway’s Yesterday’s Children.

Theatre credits include; The Gap at The Hope Mill Theatre, Diana: The Musical in Concert at The Hammersmith Eventim Apollo, Loose Women Live UK Tour, 2018 Calendar Girls UK Tour, The Rise and Fall of Little Voice at The Royal Exchange Theatre, UK tour of Steel Magnolias, Smack Family Robinson at The Rose Theatre Kingston, The Ancient Secret of Youth and The Five Tibetans at The Octagon Theatre Bolton, Grease at The Haymarket Theatre Leicester and Ruby in Yakety Yak at The Astoria.

Denise’s Television credits include; Series regular roles in Coronation Street (ITV), Waterloo Road (BBC), Boy Meets Girl (BBC), Hollyoaks (Channel 4), Down to Earth (BBC), Soldier Soldier (ITV) and Spender (BBC), along with appearances in Dead Canny (Dave), Benidorm (ITV), EastEnders (BBC), Inspector George Gently (BBC), Born and Bred(BBC) and The Vice (BBC).

Alongside her acting career, Denise has been a regular panelist on ITV’s Loose women since 2001.

Film credits include; Love Sarah, The Jealous God, Finding Fatimah and Burning Men. Denise produced her own short film Black Eyed Susan which was successful on the festival circuit in 2018.

Denise has also written 2 personal memoirs and 2 novels. Her most recent ‘non fiction’ book based on suffering from mental illness for 30 years called ‘The Unwelcome Visitor’ was released on the 25 th of June 2020 and made it to number 1 in the Amazon; Supermarket charts and also spent 8 weeks at number 1 topping the Sunday Times 'bestseller list.’

In 2020 Denise executive produced and presented her own brand new six- part documentary series called ‘Survivors’ for the Crime + Investigation Channel (UK) Exploring the lives of those who are dealing with unthinkable trauma in their lives.

Denise lives between Cheshire and London with her husband, the artist Lincoln Townley - Last year the two of them won BBC’s Unbreakable - the ultimate relationship test. Between them they have three children. Louis Healy - an actor, who is currently filming the 3rd series of Hotel Portofino. Lewis Townley, who works in post production and Matty Healy, the lead singer of multi award winning band The 1975. Lewis and Lizzie gave them their first grandson Theo in 2023