Denise Welch

Denise Welch
Publicity photo of Welch
Born	Jacqueline Denise Welch (1958-05-22) 22 May 1958 (age 58) Tynemouth, Northumberland, United Kingdom
Occupation	Broadcaster, actress
Years active	1983–present
Employer	ITV
Spouse(s)	David Easter (m. 1983; div. 1988) Tim Healy (m. 1988; div. 2012) Lincoln Townley (m. 2013)
Children	2: including Matthew
Website	Official website

Jacqueline Denise Welch (born 22 May 1958) is an English actress and television presenter. She is known for her roles as Natalie Barnes in Coronation Street (1997–2000) and Steph Haydock in Waterloo Road (2006–10). She is also known for her appearances as a regular panellist on the ITV lunchtime chat show Loose Women from 2005 to 2013.

Welch's other acting roles include the television dramas Spender (1991–93), Soldier, Soldier (1993–95) and Down to Earth (2004–05). In 2011, she was a contestant on the sixth series of Dancing on Ice, where she was partnered with professional skater Matt Evers, and in 2012 she won the ninth series of Celebrity Big Brother. 2012 also saw her star as Truvy in the UK touring production of the play Steel Magnolias.

Jacqueline Denise Welch was born in Tynemouth, Northumberland, to father Vin and mother Ann (née Ridley, died 22 May 2012). She has a younger sister Debbie. She attended Bygate School in Whitley Bay, La Sagesse Roman Catholic School in Newcastle upon Tyne, before moving to Ebchester, County Durham at the age of 13 where she attended Blackfyne Grammar School in Consett and passed five GCE exams. She developed a penchant for acting at the age of 14 after being cast in a school production of Finian's Rainbow. At the age of 17, she contemplated going to a teacher training college in Crewe; however, her father and drama teacher suggested she apply for the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London. She was successful in her application and remained at the school from 1976 to 1979, gaining her Equity Card while teaching dance at the Palace Theatre, Watford.