Denise van Outen may have divorced Lee Mead, but she has “no regrets” about marrying the West End star in the first place.

The pair have a five-year-old daughter Betsy together, but split in 2013.

Lee Mead and Denise Van Outen in 2010
Lee Mead and Denise van Outen in 2010 (Dominic Lipinski/PA)

The former Big Breakfast presenter told The Sun: “I’ve no regrets about getting married to Lee at all. He’s such a lovely person.

“There was no big fall-out and we got each other through [the divorce], really. We’re friends, so we supported each other.”

Denise also opened up about her new boyfriend, City trader Eddie Boxshall, who she has been dating for 18 months.

Eddie Boxshall and Denise van Outen
Eddie Boxshall and Denise van Outen (Yui Mok/PA)

Eddie has two children from a previous relationship, and also has a charmed relationship with his ex – as well as Denise’s.

She said: “For Eddie, the situation is similar to me and Lee. He has a lot of respect for his ex, and actually he gets on with Lee as well, which is great. I think we’re all decent people and that’s why it works.

“It’s a rare situation, I know, and I only wish it could be like that for other people, because it’s so much nicer and so much better for the kids. For everyone.”

As for children, she admitted she was open to the possibility of parenthood with her new man, but explained: “I’ve got friends in their 30s who really want to meet someone and get married and have kids.

“Well, we’ve kind of done all that, and we’re at a stage in our lives where we just want to enjoy each other’s company and travel and go away for nice weekends.”

She added: “It’s not at that stage yet and at the moment we’ve got no plans to move in. And I’m 41! So I dunno. I think we’re both quite happy with how it is at the moment.”

The two met on a blind date set up by a mutual friend – although Denise was reluctant to go.

Denise and Lee met in 2007 when he was a contestant on Any Dream Will Do, while she was a judge. They wed in 2009 at a small ceremony in the Seychelles.