Denise Van Outen reveals she's given up on finding love in real life after huge move

TV presenter Denise Van Outen has revealed her huge move has left her feeling she will never find love 'in real life' again as she turns her attention to celebrity dating app Raya

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Denise Van Outen has admitted she has lost all hope of finding love "in real life" after making a huge move. The TV presenter has been embracing single life since her split from property developer Jimmy Barba in November last year after 18 months together.

Last year, Denise opened up to the Mirror about her summer that was her most hedonistic for decades as she travelled the world for work and play. However, she has since settled into her life back in the UK and made the move from the city to the countryside.

She is embracing rural life in Kent with her 14-year-old daughter Betsy, who she shares with ex-husband Lee Mead. Despite living the idyllic life, Denise has revealed the move has scuppered her dating plans as she can now no longer meet people out and about.

The actress confessed she can't meet potential suitors in her local pub as she knows everyone already. Instead, she has turned her attention to celebrity dating app Raya.

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Denise has already gone on a few dates and admitted it still makes her laugh when she spots fellow celebrities on the exclusive dating site. Over the winter, Denise took a step back from using the app yet plans to get back on during the summer.

It has proved a lifeline for Denise as she takes on single life as she told the Sun: “Actually, for me, dating apps are a really good thing. I don’t know how else I would meet people if I wasn’t doing that.

“I’ve got Betsy, so I can’t just go out on a week night to a pub to meet someone. The only way I can do it is through an app. When I go out to DJ, I’m actually working and I don’t hang around. I’m in and out of the venue, so I don’t get to speak to people.”

Following her split from Jimmy, Denise told the Mirror: “This summer has probably been the most sort of hedonistic summer I’ve had since the 90s. I’ve had a lot of fun a lot of going out lot of drinking rosé wine in the summer and enjoying myself. But I’m good at knowing when to stop.”

She opened up on how she was exploring new romantic possibilities after joining the celebrity dating app Raya. Denise said: “I did connect with one massive Hollywood star. We had a little bit of the chat, but I don’t live in LA, so I thought, he’s not going to come to ­Chelmsford.

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“I loved it [Raya]. I’ve made some friends. I go on dates. I’m not an angel. I’m out having a good time." But after hearing pals’ experiences, Denise is in no rush to enter another relationship.

She shared: "My friends in these long-term relationships are all moaning to me anyway. They say they don’t have sex and argue all the time. They try to creep in at night when their other half’s asleep in bed.”

Denise added: “I feel happier now than I used to, because I’m more content in myself. As we start to get older, you hear of people getting the illnesses.

"I lost a friend when she was quite young. It made me realise it’s more important to celebrate the fact you’re still here and still able to enjoy yourself and do things.”

Denise has had a rocky love life as she was married to performer Lee Mead but divorced in 2015, and she later dated Eddie Boxshall. In 2022, they broke up following allegations of illicit text exchanges with other women behind her back. She discovered love again with Jimmy, who appeared to have mended her broken heart, but they later split.

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