Loose Women star Denise Welch has spoken of her love for her toyboy beau, insisting her younger partner is "the one".

The former Celebrity Big Brother star, 53, has given her first joint interview with 39-year-old Lincoln Townley, the party planner who comforted Denise when her 24-year marriage to Auf Wiedersehen, Pet actor Tim Healy ended.

Denise's love life gained attention after she left the Big Brother house in January when it was assumed she was having an affair with Lincoln.

The actress broke down live on television in February when she announced her marriage ended months before and she was not cheating on ex Tim.

And now, asked if she believes Lincoln is "the one", the actress told Bella: "Yeah I do, definitely. But I'm so terrified of tempting fate."

Denise gushed about her bond with her younger man, insisting Lincoln is her best friend as well as her boyfriend.

She said: "We have the same sense of humour. It's like having a gay best friend who I really fancy."

The couple met at a party Lincoln had organised, and smitten Lincoln believes it was love at first sight.

He said: "I found her very attractive. We met in a nightclub at one of my parties. At the end of last year we looked at being together."

And Denise, who has struggled with alcohol issues and depression in the past, suggested her new partner's raucous history is what keeps her interested in the relationship.

She said: "I'm not interested in men who haven't had a drink, haven't had a wild time. But I'm not going to put myself in a position where I'm involved in a murky world."

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