‘Eddie's always got a lot to say!'

Ahead of the new series of Celebrity Gogglebox, Denise van Outen chats about her telly favourites and life in lockdown with her boyfriend

- ANNA BAILEY

Denise van Outen has been a fixture on our screens for more than 20 years and, thanks to Celebrity Gogglebox, the nation has got to know her boyfriend, City trader Eddie Boxshall, too. The pair had us in fits of giggles with their mock bickering and banter on the hit spin-off show, so we’re delighted they’re back for another stint on the sofa.

And it sounds like Den, who turns 46 this week, will have lots of time to get stuck into some good telly. The presenter and actress has had to put several projects on hold due to lockdown, so she’s been enjoying “late-night kitchen parties” with Eddie, 45, explaining it’s, “Just the two of us dancing until the early hours.” She’s also homeschooling her 10-year-old daughter Betsy, from her marriage to actor Lee Mead, admitting, “We’re sticking with it through gritted teeth.”

Here, Denise chats about the celebs she’d love to see on Gogglebox, what makes the show so special and her insatiable cheeseboard habit…

Hi Denise! How are you feeling about being back on Celebrity Gogglebox?

Really excited, we loved doing the last series. For me, it’s what we do anyway. We watch a lot of TV together and there’s always a running commentary from the pair of us. So it was a no-brainer to say yes to another series. Also, we’re excited to see who the other celebrities are going to be.

What tips have you got for the new faces?

Just do what you normally do. This is why the show’s so good, because it’s real. Enjoy it and, if you’ve got a thought in your head, just say it.

How did Eddie feel about being in front of the camera? He seemed to be a natural…