Denise Van Outen has proven time and again to be one of the strongest women in showbiz – and she’s had to be in recent months, after she discovered evidence her ex-fiancé Eddie Boxshall was having phone sex and secret dates with other women.
Last week, the TV star opened up about the dramatic end of her relationship, telling fans, “I was in pain and shock. I’d thought we had the perfect life.”
Writing in her new autobiography A Bit of Me, the 47 year old revealed how she’d found “disrespectful and devastatingly hurtful” explicit content, which went back three years, on Eddie’s iPad.
“Among photos was a screenshot… of a woman’s breasts – and they definitely weren’t mine!” she wrote, adding, “Also, there was a flirty text exchange between Eddie and this woman, which, of course, set off alarm bells.”
She also discovered selfies of Eddie with a woman in a bar on a day he had told her he was in London for business.
Check out: celebrities who have been caught or accused of cheating
Slide 2 of 65
Getty Images
Getty Images
Kris Boyson and Katie Price
Almost a year after their split and it looks like Kris Boyson and Katie Price are still feuding despite the fact they’re both in new relationships. Things took a turn when Katie claimed her ex doesn’t have “a pot to p-ss in”. Kris then hit back and claimed that Katie slept with three other people during their relationship.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images
Katie Price and Danny Cipriani
Katie Price dated Danny Cipriani back in 2011 but their relationship came to an end when the reality star walked in on him in bed with another woman. In her autobiography Love, Lipstick and Lies, she spilled the tea – classic Katie – and said: “In my experience he was a bit – erm – lean in the most obvious departments.
“That’s why I nicknamed him Danny Chipolata. He can no longer hit the right spots on the rugby field and he certainly can’t find them on a woman.”
Getty Images
Getty Images
Lucy Mecklenburgh and Mario Falcone
Lucy Mecklenburgh broke down in tears on a park bench and revealed to Mario Falcone – while filming TOWIE – that she had been unfaithful with ex-boyfriend Mark Wright during a holiday in Ibiza. After Mario pointed out that she had lied for two months he ended their relationship. However she managed to win him back and they even went on to get engaged. It wasn’t to last and they split for good in 2013 and Mario has since revealed that he didn’t actually want to pop the question.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images
Cheryl and Ashley Cole
‘Golden couple’ Cheryl and Ashley Cole appeared to have it all; she was in Girls Aloud, he was a footballer and after a year of meeting they were engaged. Unfortunately months after they tied the knot there were reports that Ashley cheated on his wife with hairdresser Aimee Walton and this wasn’t the only rumours. In 2010, Cheryl filed for divorce.
Getty Images
Ellie Brown and Charlie Brake
They met on Love Island and all seemed to be well with Ellie Brown and Charlie Brake (minus that time they rowed on the show but quickly made up after she discovered he was a millionaire) however after they left the villa it went downhill.
Almost two months after their time in the villa Charlie announced in a short statement that they’d split and when they met back up (in front of the cameras, of course) at the Love Island reunion, she branded him a “compulsive liar” before claiming he cheated on her – and there were pictures to prove it.
Getty Images
Gabby Allen and Marcel Somerville
Another Love Island couple – Gabby Allen and Marcel Somerville. Despite a lot of people thinking their relationship was fake, the Love Island 2017 contestants proved them all wrong and dated for nine months after leaving the villa. Unfortunately it ended in tears when Marcel cheated on Gabby while they were on holiday together.
Getty Images
Seann Walsh and Rebecca Humphries / Neil and Katya Jones
Getty Images
Samira Mighty and Frankie Foster
The third Love Island couple on our list goes to Samira Mighty and Frankie Foster. After he was booted from the show, she decided to leave the villa to pursue the relationship only to hear reports that he had been unfaithful. During an episode on Love Island After Sun, Frankie insisted they’d “dealt” with the rumours… he was later caught cheating on her again but this time on camera.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images
Stacey and Ryan Giggs
Former footballer Ryan Giggs cheated on his wife Stacey for eight years with his sister-in-law Natasha. She’s claimed she fell pregnant with their child and reportedly asked him to pay for an abortion. He also allegedly had an affair with Imogen Thomas.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Spencer Matthews and Louise Thompson
One of the messiest Made in Chelsea relationships ever definitely was Spencer Matthews and Louise Thompson. Their relationship dragged on throughout the series and consisted of Spenny cheating while Louise cried her eyes out. They called it quits and continued to see each other but during a row, Spencer admitted he cheated on Louise and slept with another woman in her bed.
Getty Images
Spencer Matthews and Lucy Watson
We were surprised Lucy Watson dated Spencer Matthews because of his past history but she did. Things seemed to be going well with them until Spencer admitted he cheated on Lucy during the Made in Chelsea reunion party. It was mega awkward and she savagely told him: “Can I just say after this is finished please do not ever speak to me, ever again.”
Getty Images
Spencer Matthews and Stephanie Pratt
Spencer proved he was back to his old ways when he cheated on Stephanie Pratt during Made in Chelsea and she quickly called quits on their relationship. We don’t blame her.
Getty Images
Alex Mytton and Binky Felstead
Alex Mytton cheated on Binky Felstead several times during their relationship but she finally called it quits when she discovered he had an orgy with Spencer Matthews. The dramz.
Getty Images
Jude Law and Sienna Miller
After dating for less than a year Jude Law and Sienna Miller got engaged however things came to an abrupt halt when his children’s nanny Daisy Wright revealed to the papers that they’d been having an affair.
Getty Images
Sienna Miller and Balthazar Getty
In 2008 Sienna Miller had an affair with Balthazar Getty who was married to his wife and the mother of his four children Rosetta. Following his unfaithfulness, Balthazara and Rosetta separated and he went on to date Sienna but after two years apart he managed to get his marriage back on track.
Getty Images
Sienna Miller and Daniel Craig
Sienna Miller denied being in a relationship with her co-star Daniel Craig but did admit they were ‘briefly involved’ despite being in a relationship with Jude Law.
Instagram / lillielexie
Gaz Beadle and Lillie Lexi Gregg
Remember when Geordie Shore’s Gaz Beadle and Lillie Lexi Gregg dated for two years? During their relationship, Charlotte Crosby claimed Gaz had cheated on Lillie with her. Then after they split and they were reunited on Ex on the Beach, things took a turn for the worse when it came to light that he had cheated on while they were on holiday together in Australia.
Instagram / emma_jane1392
Gaz Beadle and Emma McVey
Gaz was apparently back at it again when Emma McVey accused him of cheating on her after he brutally dumped her via text. She made the claims on Twitter after revealing she was being sent “photos and videos of Gary with young girls” from the time they were in a relationship and when they’d split.
Getty Images
Gaz Beadle and Charlotte Crosby
They were the Geordie Shore couple we were all hoping for but Gaz Beadle just couldn’t keep it in his pants even when he was with Charlotte Crosby. However she called it quits when it slept with Jemma Lucy on Ex on the Beach and she heartbreakingly suffered an ectopic pregnancy.
Getty Images
Ewan McGregor and Eve Mavrakis
Ewan McGregor and Eve Mavrakis’ marriage came to a bitter end after a photo of the Star Wars actor kissing his co-star Mary Elizabeth Winstead surfaced.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Abbey Clancy and Peter Crouch
Back in 2010 while Abbey Clancy was pregnant with her first child, there were reports that her partner Peter Crouch had an alleged affair with a teenage prostitute. The Strictly Come Dancing winner has since admitted it was a “horrendous” time.
Getty Images
Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor
During the end of series 2 of Made in Chelsea, Millie Mackintosh made one of the most iconic speeches when she revealed her BFF Rosie Fortescue had bedded her boyfriend Hugo Taylor. Before this though, both Millie and Hugo had been guilty of cheating on each other and they’re now married, so…
Getty Images
Sam Thompson and Tiffany Watson
Sam Thompson and Tiffany Watson were quite the Made in Chelsea couple, right? Despite how loved up they seemed they were both guilty of cheating, especially considering they kept going on ‘breaks’. They’re finally over and have both left MIC so no more drama… Phew.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Getty Images
Charlotte Crosby and Gaz Beadle
Back to Charlotte Crosby and Geordie Shore viewers were shocked when she kissed Marty McKenna even though she was seeing Gaz Beadle at the time.
Getty Images
Charlotte Crosby and Josh Ritchie
Once again while filming for a TV show – this time The Charlotte Show – viewers saw Charlotte Crosby kiss her former flame Cal. However she’s put any cheating speculation to be by revealing she wasn’t ‘official’ with Josh at that time.
Getty Images
Jake Hall and Chloe Lewis
Shortly after Megan McKenna joined TOWIE she got on the wrong side of Chloe Lewis following rumours that she slept with her boyfriend Jake Hall. Jake then went on to reveal on Twitter that’s he’s not been 100% faithful during their relationship.
Getty Images
Pete Wicks and Megan McKenna
TOWIE’s Pete Wicks was caught sending saucy messages to his ex-girlfriend Jacqui Ryland while he with Megan McKenna and it all kicked off in the show. She (rightly so) screamed at him on the beach when the news broke while they were filming in Marbella. She later revealed he had apparently been texting 10 women.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Jay Z and Beyonce
They’re one of the celebrity power couples but in 2017, Jay-Z admitted he cheated on his wife of the mother of his children Beyonce. They each released an album where they hinted about his cheating and there were no hard feelings because they then released a joint album and have since moved on.
Getty Images
Megan Barton Hanson and Wes Nelson
Love Island 2018 was quite eventful but nothing prepared Wes (and only Wes, tbh) for Megan Barton Hanson leaving him. The pair getting together was already controversial because he was in a couple with Laura Anderson, he dumped her and moved on to Meg but then Casa Amor happened. While Wes stayed loyal in the other villa, Meg moved on with Alex Miller and it was quiet awkward Wes walked back in… alone. Bless him. Luckily they kissed and made up and got back together.
Getty Images
Rita Ora and Rob Kardashian
Back in 2012 Rob Kardashian took to Twitter and claimed that his girlfriend Rita Ora had allegedly cheated on him with 20 men. Rita seemingly denied the rumours in an interview by saying she didn’t think they were in a relationship.
Getty Images
James Argent and Lydia Bright
They were thought to be one of TOWIE’s power couples but James ‘Arg’ Argent cheated on Lydia during their relationship. He has said he kissed Amy Childs behind his girlfriend’s back and he even admitted he cheated with some of his fans.
Getty Images
James Argent and Gemma Collins
Gemma Collins and Arg have had more ups and downs that a yo-yo and in 2012 she called him out on Twitter by writing: “@RealJamesArgent You slept with someone else last night you disgust me you cheat !!!!”
Getty Images
Gemma Collins and Charlie King
Gemma Collins and Charlie King dated for a little bit back in 2012 but they split after he discovered she was sending sexy messages to her co-star Ricky Rayment. James Argent then said on TOWIE that she had cheated on Charlie with him.
Getty Images
Gemma Collins and Rami Hawash
Gemma Collins engagement to Rami Hawash came to a bitter end in 2014 but before that James Argent accused The GC of cheating on her boyfriend with him. Gemma denied the claims and confidently said: “Cheating is sleeping James.” Riiiiiight.
Getty Images
Lauren Goodger and Mark Wright
Ohh the original TOWIE couple Lauren Goodger and Mark Wright. They called time on their 10-year relationship and engagement in 2011 following a lot of speculation that they’d both cheated.
Getty Images
James Lock and Danielle Armstrong
James Lock and Danielle Armstrong had a err, fiery, relationship. Lockie admitted to Dani’s pal Ferne McCann that he had been a “naughty boy”. He then told his girlfriend: “Before we was official, I did sleep with some girls… like three.” That wasn’t the end though because he later admitted he’s sent inappropriate messages to other women during their relationship.
Getty Images
Bobby Norris and Harry Derbidge
Remember when Bobby Norris and Harry Derbidge dated in 2014? Us neither. Anyways, their relationship came to an end after Haz admitted he slept with his ex-boyfriend.
Getty Images
Ferne McCann and Charlie Sims
Ferne McCann and Charlie Sims talk about a throwback, ey? The pair were on and off during their time on TOWIE but then Charlie was spotted looking very cosy with another woman in Ibiza. However it them came to light that at the beginning of Ferne’s relationship Frank Major she had actually been dating Charlie. Crickey.
Getty Images
Getty Images
Tiger Woods and Elin Nordegren
Back in 2009, Tiger Woods who hit with quite a few accusations that he allegedly cheated on his wife Elin Nordegren with a string on women. Following the reports the golfer made a “profound apology” and has since split from his now ex wife.
Getty Images
Bill Clinton and Hilary Clinton
Bill Clinton’s affair with Monica Lewinsky will go down in history as one of the most scandalous affairs in the public spotlight. Despite his transgressions he is still married to his wife Hilary Clinton.
Getty Images
Stephen Bear and Lillie Lexi Gregg
Stephen Bear followed in the footsteps of Stephanie Davis in 2016 when he cheated on his girlfriend Lillie Lexi Gregg during his time in the Celebrity Big Brother house. Stephen and Chloe Khan got it on during his time on the reality show but things got MEGA awkward when Lillie entered the house and confronted him.
Getty Images
Stephen Bear and Jemma Lucy
In 2016, Jemma Lucy took to Twitter to reveal her relationship with Stephen Bear had ended “weeks ago” before claiming he cheated. Fast forward three years (yes, really) and he finally confessed while filming for BBC3’s show Eating With My Ex.
Instagram / stevie_bear
Stephen Bear and Ellie O’Donnell
Back in 2018, Stephen Bear went to America to film MTV’s show The Challenge however during his time out there, rumours that he cheated on his girlfriend, Ellie O’Donnell, with co-star Georgia Harrison came to light.
Getty Images
Stephen Bear and Georgia Harrison
Following a short time together, Stephen Bear and Georgia Harrison called it quits and soon after there were reports he cheated.
Getty Images
Sam Bird and Georgia Steel
Despite (annoyingly) branding herself loyal throughout her time on Love Island, Georgia Steel reportedly sent secret texts to her ex-boyfriend despite being in a relationship with Sam Bird. He claims his now ex-girlfriend had stayed the night at her ex-boyfriend’s house and sent her friend a selfie of herself in bed with her former lover.
Getty Images
Instagram / missmalinsara
Malin Andersson and Tom Kemp
Love Island star Malin Andersson accused her boyfriend Tom Kemp of cheating on her during pregnancy. However they managed to get through it and got back together.
Getty Images
Louise Thompson and Andy Jordan
After Spencer Matthews cheated on Louise we didn’t think she’d then cheat on her boyfriend. Yup. During series six it came to light that she had been unfaithful with another man and there was a lot of speculation that it was with none other than One Direction’s Niall Horan.
Denise added that, despite her DJ partner denying any cheating, she spoke to one of the women, who confirmed their “conversations had become sexual in nature”.
Denise wrote, “To me, sexual chats and continued communication over a long period of time amount to cheating. Especially when it’s done from a home I’d strived to build for us as a family. A home that Eddie found and I bought for us.”
She continued, “If I hadn’t found those pictures, I’d be planning a wedding right now. Instead, I’ve simply got to move on.”
Denise later said she’d had to delay publishing her book because of the revelations, saying, “It was the toughest thing… The book was supposed to come out last November… [but] I found out everything that had been going on and I had to make a decision. We had to pull the book.”
Look! More news!
Why Coleen Rooney is ready to give up
Saffron Barker shows off jet black hair and WOW
Chloe Ferry shows off ‘little lips’ after dissolving filler
Happier times in 2020 ©Getty Images
She went on to explain, “I couldn’t write an autobiography without being open and honest about my feelings,” adding, “The one thing I’m really proud of myself for is I do know when to walk away. I don’t like to be taken advantage of… I just feel like it’s really important as a woman to have self-worth and self-respect.”
Denise, who’s mum to Betsy, 11, from her previous relationship with actor Lee Mead, also said, “I’ve always tried to maintain that in anything that I do in life, generally. More so now as a mother because I feel like I’m a role model and I’ve got to set an example. The bad times are always followed by good times. I think you just ride the wave of the bad times knowing that eventually you will get to a good place.”
As heat recently reported, Denise revealed in January that she’d ended her seven-year relationship with Eddie, later telling fans, “I had to make the difficult decision not to continue in our relationship.”
But it seems her now-ex isn’t quite ready to let things go, with sources claiming Eddie, 49, is “desperate” to win Denise back. Last week, he shared two posts on Instagram, the first a short video declaring, “I’m so happy we met,” with the caption, “We met for a reason and for that I’m happy.” Later, he shared the words, “Love is more important than money.”
One fan pointedly replied, “Trust is more important than both,” with Eddie responding cryptically, “Not when money is your ONLY love in life.”
GET THE BEST CELEB INTERVIEWS IN HEAT MAGAZINE EACH WEEK ©heat magazine
It followed his tribute to Denise on International Women’s Day earlier this month, when he wrote, “I have to acknowledge that in our wonderful seven-and-a-half year relationship, I witnessed the hardest working and most driven woman in her business and amazing mummy to Betsy.”
Stay strong, Den.