TV presenter Denise Van Outen says she hopes her new boyfriend, ‘Joseph’ star Lee Mead will be the one to help her tame her wild ways.

Essex girl Denise, 33, who split from actor James Lance last year, recently admitted she’s been dating Mead for a few weeks.

She said: “The best way to get over one is to get under another, that’s what I say!”

“I’m experiencing the effects of a stubbly chin the next day.” She added.

Fiesty Denise - who was once engaged to Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay, says she’d still love to get married one day. “I’ve been out with quite a few cocky men and they’re nothing but trouble. Now I want a bit of stability,” she said.

Speaking of new love Mead, she told Heat Magazine: “He’s 26 but of all the guys I’ve dated, he’s probably the most grown up.”

“It’s only been a matter of weeks so I’m not going to declare my undying love yet.”

The couple are both from Essex and according to Denise they share a ‘common bond’: “He’s Southend’s finest and I’m Bailsdon’s best!” She laughed.

This isn't really news, just a wee note to emphasise how lovely Lee is!

Fiona sent him a letter a couple of months ago along with a card she asked to sign, without thinking he would actually take the time to do it, but it arrived the other day! The message inside the card reads:

"Happy Birthday Flick, with love Lee x
Have a great day! x"

With it, he also sent an official photo of himself and on it was written:

"To Flick
With love, Lee x"

xD

Denise Van Outen has insisted that she "rarely spoke" to Lee Mead when they filmed Any Dream Will Do together last year.

Van Outen was a judge on the BBC One reality series, which saw Mead beating eleven other hopefuls to the lead role of Joseph in Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit West End musical.

Denise and Lee started dating late last year following Mead's split from his girlfriend Kerry Stammers.

"I rarely spoke to Lee during the series. There is quite a divide between the judges and the contestants, you have to be professional," Denise told The Sun. "Also, he had a girlfriend who was at the studio and I would never have gone there, I'm old fashioned like that. They were broken up for three months before anything happened between us.

"Lee heard I was single, called and asked me out. It wasn't really a date, we went with a group of friends, then things deepened."

Hope you all enjoyed "When Joseph Met Maria" and are having a fantastic Christmas!

Happy new year and see you in 2008 for an even better LEE-MEAD.NET!

Lee Mead is going to be on your TV screens this Christmas quite a bit, so grab a cuppa and get comfy!

He’ll be appearing in a documentary about his success, entitled The Winner’s Story on Saturday 29 December at 5pm (BBC1). The programme follows Lee’s progress through the competition Any Dream Will Do, and his journey from winning the part of Joseph in the West End production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat to becoming one of the West End’s most popular stars.

But before that, just in time for the big day, is something to get you in the festive mood. When Joseph Met Maria airs at 7pm on Christmas Eve (BBC1), bringing together the Marias and Josephs from the BBC’s How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria? and Any Dream Will Do series to perform for the first time (ever) in what’s officially described as a “Christmas Eve extravaganza.”

The winners of the two competitions, Connie Fisher and Lee Mead, will perform a special duet together, Andrew Lloyd Webber will share some of his favourite moments (expect lots of amusing flashback clips) and Denise Van Outen, along with John Barrowman, will perform group numbers with the runner-ups of both series.

Pass that box of Quality Streets, would you...?

Lee Mead's ex-girlfriend has admitted that she feels "hurt" after learning that he is now dating Denise Van Outen.

Kerry Stammers has accused Denise of flirting with the Joseph star when she judged Any Dream Will Do earlier this year.

Show winner Mead ended his relationship with Kerry in October, one month after Denise broke up with actor James Lance. News of Lee and Denise's relationship hit the tabloids this week.

"Denise was a real flirt on the show and I know she liked Lee but I did not think it was anything more that," Kerry told the Sunday Mirror. "I thought it was banter."

"It's a shock," she added. "I can't believe they are now together. And yes, it hurts."

Denise Van Outen has been dating Any Dream Will Do winner Lee Mead for the last month.

Mead admitted flirting with the TV presenter when she appeared as a judge on the hit BBC talent show, but both were involved with other people at the time.

However, he split with Kerry Stammers in October after three years and Van Outen broke up with Teachers actor James Lance in September.

A friend said: “There was a real spark on the show. They liked each other but neither was available.

“After they finished filming in June they lost touch for a while. But after Lee split up with his girlfriend he set his sights on Denise."

The source added: "He called her and asked her out for dinner. It went really well. It’s pretty serious considering it’s only been going on for four weeks.”

Mead is currently is starring in a West End production of Joseph And The Technicolour Dreamcoat while Van Outen is appearing in Rent.

Denise Van Outen has found love with Joseph star Lee Mead.

The Basildon beauty, who's currently starring in West End musical Rent, has been dating Lee for more than a month after meeting him on BBC series Any Dream Will Do earlier this year.

Lee, 26, won the series to secure the lead role in musical Joseph, while 33-year-old Denise appeared as an "expert".

When hunky Lee was announced as the series winner, Denise gushed: "The next time he lands a role as a leading man, can he put me forward to be the leading lady?"

A close friend of Denise's said: "Lee has been trying to woo Denise for months, but she's always been concerned about the age gap.

Advertisement"But a few weeks ago Lee turned up to watch her in Rent and they went out afterwards - it all seemed so natural. They had so much chemistry between them. They've been inseparable since."

Lee is featured in Celebs magazine, which is free with the Sunday Mirror.

They are in 1940s style outfits and talk about how they will spend Christmas. I will add scans to the gallery!

Lee Mead, who's currently starring in Joseph And The Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat in the West End, has revealed what really went on between him and Any Dream Will Do judge Denise Van Outen.

The blonde presenter clearly had a soft spot for the 26-year-old in the reality series, which he eventually won earlier this year. And now he's newly single, he's hoping to tempt Denise out on a few dates.

'We're in contact now and then,' he admits. 'There was some flirting on the show, but whether it'll come to anything, who knows? It's her place to say.

'All I'm saying is, she's a nice lady and there have been flirtations.'

He split up with his long-term girlfriend in October, so now he's free to start dating again. 'I've been single for about a month,' he says. 'My girlfriend and I grew apart.'

And of his ideal woman, he says she'll be: 'Just someone who's herself.' Which sounds exactly like Denise to us…