She was once one of the faces of 90s ladette culture, and indeed one the most sought after television presenters in Britain thanks to her role as host of the cult Channel 4 show The Big Breakfast.
Denise Van Outen, the much-loved ‘Essex girl’ prompted more newspaper headlines than A-list stars.
A graduate of the famous London theatre school, Sylvia Young, she also dated Jamiroquai singer Jay Kay for several years, presented on Radio X and starred as a judge on Andrew Lloyd Webber’s BBC talent shows I’d Do Anything and Any Dream Will Do.
In recent years, Denise has launched a new career as a DJ. And more than ever appears to be cashing in on her celebrity status. Associates tell me: ‘She never seems to pay for much, she loves a freebie.’
Indeed, the 51-year-old mother-of-one is enjoying the perks of being famous with an array of PR gifted items and experiences, which some observers note is ‘way over the top’.
These include luxurious hotel stays and expensive cosmetic products – in return for Instagram posts, which are labelled with ‘ad’ and ‘gifted’ tags to avoid flouting advertising laws, requiring freebies to be declared.
Most recently, Denise boasted about how she had been given a freebie holiday from British Airways to Universal Orlando Resort in Florida, alongside celebrity friends including Holly Willoughby, Abbey Clancy, Peter Crouch, Mark Wright and Olly Murs.
Denise, who was joined by her daughter Betsy from her four-year marriage to actor and winner of Any Dream Will Do in 2007 Lee Mead, and niece Freja, on the half-term holiday, stayed in one of the Universal Orlando hotels, with rooms costing up to $739 (£565). They explored several theme parks during their trip and the Volcano Bay water park.
In recent years Denise Van Outen has launched a new career as a DJ, writes Codie Bullen. And more than ever she appears to be cashing in on her celebrity status
The TV star boasted about how she had been given a freebie holiday from British Airways to Universal Orlando, alongside celebrity friends including Holly Willoughby, bottom left, and Abbey Clancy, bottom right
In one post, she squealed: ‘Absolutely loving spending time with Betsy & Freja on an incredible half-term school holiday trip to @universalorlando staying in @universalorlandohotels.
‘They have it all covered here. Amazing theme parks to keep the thrill-seeking teenagers happy. Epic at night is so good!!! Love the fountain show at closing. Food is unreal! Healthy choices, which is music to my ears. I love sushi & salads.
‘The shopping is also fabulous with malls & outlets only being a Max 10 min drive away from the resort. Winning! @britishairwaysholidays have nailed it! The perfect holiday.’
But it isn’t just holidays that Denise is getting for free.
She has also kitted out her stylish new London flat with freebies. Once the party girl, Denise has a Caple wine cooler, priced at £2,100, which she gave glowing reviews to her 752,000 followers: ‘I love entertaining at my London flat, so it is essential to have the perfect wine cooler and this one by Caple fits the bill. It doesn’t just cool your bottles, it also keeps your glasses nice and chill. So, I guess this is why my friends love stopping by my flat for a chill wine every time.’
Then there is a grey three-seater Sofology sofa which appears to be worth £1,499. In a video to plug it, she told fans: ‘Super comfy and stylish, and part of the lifestyle fabric range, which means it is really easy to clean. So, if you have got a busy home with kids and pets but still want a touch of luxe, be sure to check out Sofology’s lifestyle fabric range.’
Even Denise’s wallpaper is gifted. She shared a video showing it off and said: ‘A huge thank you to @ilovewallpaper.co.uk for bringing the perfect touch of luxury to my London flat refurb (Hallway & guest bedroom). The Milan II wallpaper (in white & gold) and Howson wallpaper (in ivory & gold) have transformed my space into something truly special.’
Denise – who is signed to Encanta Talent Management – has also worked with fashion brands including Primark, Topshop, and JD Williams and has been sent free beauty products, including a full ‘glow set’ from Korean skincare brand Yepoda, worth £111, which she frequently posts about.
Denise gave a glowing review of her Caple wine cooler, worth £2,100, to her 752,000 followers
In one post, she gushed: ‘No more spending hours looking for the perfect skincare products. I’m using everything from @yepoda in the Full Glow Set that comes in one box. Dreamy!’
Mega-influencers with more than a million followers can earn more than £10,000 per sponsored post, while industry experts say top-tier celebrities have the potential to earn more. The exact amount is negotiated and depends on factors like follower count, engagement, the length of the campaign, and whether it’s a one-off post or a multi-year deal.
In between her party trips to Ibiza, Denise has been visiting Preventicum London for health assessments, with prices starting at £2,000 for the ‘Essential’ package to £11,500 or more for the ‘Optimal+’ package.
Promoting the experience, she said in her post: ‘Absolutely loved my full health check at @preventicum_london. The team are so thorough, professional, and caring – it feels amazing to do this for myself and have that peace of mind with the results. Thanks to Preventicum for supporting this experience, I can’t recommend them enough!’
As well as securing big-money social media deals this year, Denise landed a DJ residency at iconic Ibiza super club UNVRS and has spent a lot of her time on the party island, enjoying lavish hotel stays and luxury meals.
This summer, she enjoyed several stays at Wi-Ki-Woo, with rooms starting at €271 (£238) per night, with her DJ friend Jemma Bolt.
They shared posts enjoying food at the hotel as well as other venues including popular sunset spot Cafe Mambo. When the pair weren’t working, they were spotted in the VIP section of the clubs, or in the DJ booth with the likes of Carl Cox and David Guetta.
The cost for a VIP table at UNVRS, where Denise DJs and parties, varies significantly, with prices starting around €500 (£440) for a ticket and reaching thousands of euros for premium tables.
Alongside her Ibiza residency, her DJ career has flourished so much this year that it secured her huge gigs at Glastonbury, the Monaco Grand Prix, the Isle of Wight Festival, and in the Maldives, all of which were likely paid for by the company who booked her.
From her Maldives work trip, Denise shared a series of bikini snaps and wrote: ‘@velassarumaldives is PARADISE. Beaching, DJing (beach party) & hanging out with the best crew.’
Denise said her Ibiza residency, which marked one of the biggest opportunities of her career in recent years, has inspired her to experiment with club sounds and electronic beats.
The DJ, who released her first album in 22 years last month, titled A Bit Of Me, said she had been inspired after spending the summer performing on the Spanish island.
She explained that she was ‘writing dance tunes and ballads’ and loved the creative process of making music again, adding she was ‘100 per cent’ planning to release it.
The former radio presenter has included one original track, which was written in the aftermath of her split from ex-fiance Eddie Boxshall in 2022. She ended her seven-year relationship with the commodities trader, after discovering he’d been unfaithful.
Denise said the song captured a vulnerable moment in her life when she felt ‘a little bit lost’ and uncertain about her future.
It certainly seems she’s now making the most of what life has to offer.
Denise’s representatives have been approached for comment.
