Denise Welch left ‘in floods of tears’ over TV health scare

The actress and presenter opened up about the experience while discussing new TV drama Forever Home.

Parts of the Channel 5 show were filmed in Consett , just a few miles from Ebchester, where Denise spent her teenage years.

Welch told TV Guide she suffered a detached retina shortly before filming and feared she would have to quit the project.

She called her agent “in floods of tears”, convinced she would lose the job.

The production team rearranged the filming schedule while she recovered from surgery, allowing her to stay in the cast.

The 68-year-old plays Moira Crottie in the six-part adaptation of Graham Norton’s novel.

(Image: Helen Williams)

The role comes at a significant point in Welch’s career after she recently announced she was leaving Loose Women following nearly 25 years on the ITV daytime programme to focus on acting once again .

Forever Home is one of her first major projects since the decision.

Will Nicholson (series Producer), Graham Norton, and Kirstie Macdonald (Creative Director) on the set of Forever Home (Image: Supplied)

North East connections

The drama also has a strong North East connection for Welch- although born in Tynemouth in 1958, she moved to Ebchester with her family when she was 13 .

At nearby Blackfyne Grammar School in Consett, she discovered the passion for acting that shaped her life.

Welch has described her County Durham school years as transformative.

She discovered acting at 14 after being cast in a school production of Finian’s Rainbow, then followed a teacher’s advice to apply to London’s Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts instead of pursuing teacher training.

@channel5 They all want the house. They don’t want its secrets. 👀 🏡 Forever Home, based on Graham Norton’s bestselling novel, is full of twists you won’t see coming. Forever Home. Coming Soon. Watch | Stream on 5 #foreeverhome #grahamnorton #book #booktok #newseries #trailer ♬ original sound – Channel 5

After graduating in 1979, Welch began her career at Newcastle’s Live Theatre before landing TV roles in Byker Grove, Spender, Soldier Soldier, Coronation Street and Waterloo Road.

She later became a household name on Loose Women and has spoken openly about depression and addiction.

Her sons have followed her into showbusiness, with Matty Healy fronting The 1975 and Louis Healy building a career as an actor.

Forever Home premiered on Channel 5 this week, with episodes airing Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday this week and next.