Denise Van Outen has had some good news and some bad news this week. The six-month pregnant star will be joining the likes of Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton to create a new maternity range for Very.co.uk. Unfortunately, she's also been axed from Andrew Lloyd Webber's latest BBC TV show 'for being pregnant', it's been claimed.
Denise will instead be replaced by Charlotte Church on the show. Considering the fact that it's against the law to reject a candidate based on pregnancy, this move is sure to reignite the sexism and ageism debate within the media. Last year, the BBC faced huge criticism for replacing 66-year-old Arlene Phillips on Strictly Come Dancing with Alesha Dixon. Newsreaders Moira Stuart, 60, and Anna Ford, 66, were also axed.
However, it's worth noting that the new show, Over the Rainbow, will be seeing a brand new cast of judges, so none of the previous show's cast will be on the panel.
On the positive side, Denise should be busy with her DVO Maternity range for Very.co.uk. Holly Willoughby's previous maternity range, range of pretty maternity and post-baby dresses, proved to be incredibly popular. The range will be launched near the end of March 2010, and will be made up of 16 items.
Denise is currently pregnant with her first child, and is due in May this year. Denise married Any Dream Will Do winner Lee Mead (who won the talent show she was judging) last April in a beach wedding.
Source: Daily Mail
- Check out what we thought of Holly's range last year.
- More maternity wear on ParentDish