Denise Van Outen shocked fans on Monday as she announced she had split from her boyfriend Jimmy Barba – but were there signs the couple were on the rocks?
The presenter and DJ, 49, went public with property developer, 55, last summer after her split from her cheating ex Eddie Boxshall, who she was with for seven years.
She told The Sun: ‘We have decided to part ways but we remain great friends and our families and children are still in touch.’
Despite splitting up following a whirlwind 18 month romance, Denise and Jimmy still follow each other on social media and have kept their love-up snaps of one another on their profiles.
But taking a deeper look at their Instagram pages, the pair have been noticeably absent together in posts.
Denise Van Outen shocked fans on Monday as she announced she had split from her boyfriend Jimmy Barba but, were there signs the couple were on the rocks
The presenter and DJ, 49, went public with property developer, 55, last summer after her split from cheating ex Eddie Boxshall, who she was with for seven years
Before they called it quits, the couple seemed to be inseparable and posed together on a number of red carpets and shared cosy holiday snaps of themselves.
Jimmy’s last post of a picture of Denise came more than six weeks ago, while Denise’s was on August 14.
Since then, neither of them have posted anything of the other.
Instead, the TV presenter has shared a variety of snaps of herself as she appears to have been busy with work – DJing and presenting on Steph’s Packed Lunch.
Denise found love again with Jimmy in July 2022 following her devastating split from Eddie.
She ended her relationship with the commodities trader in January 2022 after discovering unfaithful messages.
Eddie moved out of Denise’s home following their shock split and is now thought to be staying with friends.
Six months later, she went public with Jimmy, who she met through All Saints singer Shaznay Lewis, at the Grand Prix Ball and the pair enjoyed their first holiday together after jetting to Marbella.
Just a couple of months ago, Denise spoke about her ‘good relationship’ with Jimmy and told how she didn’t feel the need to vet her new man as she knew those closest to her would never set her up with someone she could not trust.
She told The Sun: ‘I am in a really good relationship now. Jimmy is lovely!’
Despite splitting up following a whirlwind 18 month romance, Denise and Jimmy still follow each other on social media and have kept their love-up snaps of one another on their profiles
However, taking a deeper look at their Instagram pages the pair have been noticeably absent together in posts
Denise added of the friends that set them up: ‘I was introduced to him via my friends who I have known for the best part of my life.
‘I didn’t think I needed to get him vetted. I knew they were never going to set me up with someone who I couldn’t trust. I knew they wouldn’t do that to me and he knows too many people.’
Blue star Duncan James and Gary Barlow were among her famous pals who gave him the seal of approval as he used to work with Jimmy from his professional dancing days.
She added of her breakup from Eddie: ‘I always knew it would be alright eventually. I am not one to sit there and dwell on things. I just pick myself up and turn it into something positive and there is so much I have to be thankful for.’
Denise explained how she didn’t want to go public until the relationship was ‘solid’ so instead the couple would stay in and chat for hours.
And her friends certainly think he’s the one, as they think that he’ll pop the question to Denise this year.
A source told MailOnline: ‘Nobody who knows Denise and Jimmy would be the least bit surprised if they got engaged next year.
‘She’s been friends with him for a long, long time – but it’s developed into something really special.’
Back in 2010, Jimmy became a household name in Italy after starring in the eleventh series of Big Brother (Grande Fratello) where he finished in fourth place.
Before they called it quits, the couple seemed to be inseparable and posed together on a number of red carpet and shared cosy holiday snaps of themselves
Jimmy’s last post of a picture of Denise came more than six weeks ago, while Denise’s was on August 14. Since then, neither of them have posted anything of the other
While he may not have won the series and bagged the €300,000 grand prize, he kept audiences entertained during his stint by striking up romances with two of his fellow housemates, Rosa Baiano and Margherita Zanatta.
What followed was a short-lived pop career, with Jimmy releasing three singles between 2012 and 2013 – although they failed to light up the charts.
More recently, Jimmy – who described his career as being a dancer and farmer when he appeared on Grande Fratello – has shunned the world of showbiz to become a property developer.
However, the British-Italian star did reveal that he still has an interest in celebrity culture when he struck up a conversation with the likes of singer Cheryl and Sky Sports’ Laura Woods.
A look back at Denise Van Outen’s love life
Jay Kay (1998-2001)
Denise, who narrates The Only Way Is Essex, dated Jamiroquai lead singer Jay Kay, 52, for three years from 1998 to 2001.
The TV personality, 47, enjoyed a highly-publicised relationship with the Jamiroquai bandmember, 52, before they ‘painfully’ called it quits back in 2001.
Denise even wrote about him in her new autobiography A Bit Of Me, and he claimed they called off their plans to marry due to ‘conflicting’ jobs at the time.
The ex files: The star, who narrates The Only Way Is Essex, dated Jamiroquai lead singer Jay Kay, 52, for three years from 1998 to 2001 (pictured in 1998)
Nick Moran (2001)
After Jay, there was a brief rebound fling with Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels actor Nick Moran.
One onlooker observed of one of their date nights: ‘They were like a pair of magnets – stuck together all night. They were kissing and cuddling like love-struck kids.’
Yet their relationship wasn’t meant to be and the two stars split up shortly after they first began dating.
Former flame: After Jay, there was a brief rebound fling with Lock, Stock And Two Smoking Barrels actor Nick Moran
Richard Traviss (2003-2005)
Following this, Denise dated nightclub owner Richard Traviss from 2003 until 2005, with the couple even becoming engaged during their romance.
During their relationship the couple were hit by cheating claims when a lapdancer penned a kiss and tell claiming to have slept with Richard in 2003 – claims that he and Denise denied.
Despite this the couple called it quits two years later but on good terms, with Denise telling ES Magazine: ‘We’re still talking and we’re still great mates.’
Past romance: Denise dated nightclub owner Richard Traviss from 2003 until 2005, with the couple even becoming engaged during their romance (pictured in 2004)
Lee Mead (2007-2013)
Denise first walked down the aisle to wed her daughter Betsy’s father Lee Mead, 40, however they separated four years later in 2013.
Denise married Lee in the Seychelles in 2009, after meeting on the 2007 TV show Any Dream Will Do where she was a judge and he was a contestant. They welcomed Betsy in 2010.
Denise confirmed they had parted ways in June 2013 – just six months after being named the runner-up on Strictly’s tenth series.
Former flame: Denise first walked down the aisle to wed her daughter Betsy’s father Lee, 40, in 2009, however they separated in 2013 (pictured in 2010)
Eddie Boxshall (2015-2022)
Denise began dating commodities trader Eddie Boxshall in 2015 and while the couple were never formally engaged they had announced they planned to marry.
She split from Eddie in January 2022 after he was caught having phone sex with other women, with Eddie later admitting he sent up to 20 sext messages behind Denise’s back.
Eddie said he feels ashamed and ‘deeply regrets’ sending the messages and said he contacted his presenter ex-girlfriend many times to apologise but she did not want to reconcile their relationship.
It’s all over: Denise began dating commodities trader Eddie Boxshall in 2015 and while the couple were never formally engaged they had announced they planned to marry, splitting in 2022 (pictured in 2015)
