Multi-talented performer and presenter Denise Van Outen, 51, talks to Jo Ebsworth about battling imposter syndrome, feeling the fear and doing it anyway, and embracing a new chapter in midlife.

Words: Joanna Ebsworth. Images: Robin Kennedy and Karis Kennedy.

I agree 100 per cent with the idea that midlife is like a second act. I’m loving this stage of my life, especially now that my daughter, Betsy, is 15, because I don’t feel so much guilt about enjoying my work.

I count myself very lucky to be a mum, but I’d say I spent 90 per cent of my time at work feeling guilty for not being at home when Betsy was younger, and I’d beat myself up if I got home late and missed bedtime.

Recently, I was telling Betsy about when I did Strictly Come Dancing in 2012. She was only two at the time, so she doesn’t remember any of it, which is ironic because I literally remember feeling like the worst mum in the world for not being constantly around for her!

I’m a great believer in having a reinvention and a rebrand. I think it’s healthy! Recently, I released my first album since 2003, A Bit of Me, and this March, I’m touring the UK with a new solo show, An Evening with Denise Van Outen: Songs, Stories & All That Jazz.

I’ve always suffered from having a bit of imposter syndrome, so I’ve had to have a bit of a chat with myself and say, ‘This is a new chapter, and you need to just go for it and enjoy it.’ I stopped singing for a really long time, but it’s become my main focus now because I really missed it and it’s what I want to do going forwards.

I’m not looking to be number one at anything, but I do want to feel like my personal number one inside.

The idea for my album came about after I released my autobiography, A Bit of Me, in 2023. Every chapter of the book features a song that relates to a certain moment in my life, and I realised recording those songs would make a great soundtrack of my life for me to leave behind for Betsy to listen to.

I actually recorded it a couple of years ago and it was supposed to come out on my 50th, but I delayed the release because I felt it was missing an original title track that talked about where I am in life now. In the end, the song A Bit of Me came about while I was having therapy.

I was getting really frustrated about how I was feeling, because I was overthinking everything and I felt like I was wasting a lot of time, but when my therapist suggested I should play to my strengths in music and try to channel all of my emotions into writing a song, I wasn’t sure I could do it.

When the therapist asked what was stopping me, I said, ‘Fear.’ She told me to just do it anyway, and if it didn’t work out, I didn’t have to put it on the album.

Then, one day, I was feeling really vulnerable while sitting in my car, and I just started singing and it all came together. The process has been so cathartic, and I’m glad I did it, especially now I’m in a good place and I can talk about that time because I’m detached from that emotion now.

I get why songwriters do it. I’ve listened to the new Lily Allen album a million times over, and I really understand now what she means when she says she was in a different headspace when she wrote it. Songwriting is a great outlet for getting everything out. I tell you, I’m all for it!

People have been lovely about the album, and I can’t wait to go on tour. I’ve done so many different things in my career and the show will be a lovely opportunity to bring everything together from my autobiography and album while sharing lots of funny anecdotes and singing all the songs that mean something to me, including those from musicals like Chicago, which I did on the West End and Broadway.

I’ll talk about all the 90s stuff, presenting The Big Breakfast, and doing shows like Celebrity Gogglebox, and I’m sure it’ll evolve as I’m on the road, and hidden gems I haven’t mentioned in the book will be revealed. That’s the joy of doing a show on your own – you don’t have to stick to a certain script!

I know the tour is going to be a lot of hard work, but I’ve been preparing myself. I’ve been on a strict alcohol ban since January because booze really affects your singing voice, and I’ve also been singing every day to build up my vocal muscles. I’ve had to be disciplined to get fit and feel in top health because I haven’t got an understudy who can play me, and I need to make sure I’m well enough to do all 19 shows through the month.

I look after my immune system during the winter by really upping my vegetable intake. I don’t really cook at all over the summer – it’s all barbecues and salads – but I love to make healthy, hearty meals on my Aga during winter.

I love vegetables, and I did try to go meat-free when I was doing the Dancing On Ice tour in 2022, but I didn’t last very long – I love a roast beef dinner with all the trimmings, and I tend to eat loads of fish during the summer.

I also drink ginger shots and try to remember to take my supplements, including vitamin C (I do forget sometimes when I’m filming), but I generally like to get my vitamins and minerals through my diet because I feel that’s really important.

I’ve never been one of those really athletic types. Obviously, I danced for years and I do exercise, but I like to be outside rather than indoors. I really don’t like gyms because I don’t like going to places where there’s loads of other people, so I very much prefer to be in my own space.

I have a PT that I normally train with a couple of times a week doing weights, and I love going for long power walks when the weather’s nice. But I must admit, I can struggle to stay motivated during winter.

I’ve always been a bit of a risk taker. And in some ways, I probably care even less about taking risks now that I’m older. But, weirdly, I’m also more conscious of the impact those risks can have on my health.

I dislodged a disc into my spinal cord doing Strictly, and I dislocated and fractured my shoulder in three parts doing Dancing On Ice, so now when I get asked to do certain TV shows, I’ll ask, ‘What’s the risk factor?’

I’m also more mindful about how a job is going to impact my sleep, wellbeing and family life these days, so I choose work based on how it will enhance my life, rather than saying yes to everything and causing myself more stress.

I Iike to hibernate in the winter, and I love going to bed early with a relaxing cup of tea. One of my non-negotiables is making sure I take regular breaks so I can get enough rest. If I am going through a busy stint with work, I try to be as kind to myself as possible, so I’ll tell my agents I’ll need a few days off afterwards to just be at home, do nothing and be a mum.

I also try to pre-book holidays now so the time is booked in and I can’t just say yes to everything. It’s taken me years to learn how to say no! I’m really not bothered about ageing, so long as I look after my health.

I don’t understand why all the young girls are having loads of surgery and injectables, and I’m also really opposed to using filters. I just don’t like them, and I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had to ask my friends to take down pictures of me from social media after a night out because they’ve applied a filter and I look plastic.

I’ve seen celebrities in the flesh and thought, ‘Oh, that’s not how they look on Instagram’, and I’d hate for people to meet me in real life and say I don’t look how I do on social media.

I think it’s great to look exactly how you look. Just look how great Davina McCall looks. She doesn’t do any of those cosmetic procedures, and I think she looks fab, as do Claudia Winkleman and Zoe Ball.

Considering we were all 90s party girls, we’ve all managed to look after ourselves in other ways without subjecting ourselves to tweakments. Whereas I think it’s become the norm for many 30-year-olds to have Botox. And it’s weird.

So many young women these days end up all looking the same, and I also fear for the younger ones because they’re going to grow up with even more pressure. I just think it’s such a shame.

That said, I have always looked after my skin. I cleanse and moisturise every night, always wear a hat and SPF when I’m in the sun, and I also have regular facials, which I started having as I got older.

I think they’ve been really good for me, but I’m not one of those people who follows a 12-step skincare programme. I’ve done quite a lot of consumer shows for Channel 4 which challenged many of those health and beauty trends you see online, and it’s really changed my view.

Having spoken to many beauty experts, who say a lot of products are just about marketing hype, I’m far less inclined to fall for fads and trends. I’d rather get a good night’s sleep to help my body and skin repair overnight.

An Evening with Denise Van Outen: Songs, Stories & All That Jazz is touring the UK from March 1-23. To find information on venues and tickets, including VIP Meet & Greet tickets, visit denisevanouten.co.uk.