Denise van Outen reveals secret date with F1 legend in New York

DENISE van Outen has admitted she once arranged a secret date with Formula 1 legend Eddie Irvine.

The telly star, 47, said the 56-year-old motorsports champ began pestering her for a date several years ago, so she eventually relented.

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But unbeknown to Eddie, it was all part of an April Fools' Day trick schemed up by Denise, because "he just thought every woman he met fancied him".

Speaking on C4's Steph's Packed Lunch, newly-single Denise even admitted she sent a friend to the restaurant just to see if he turned up - and he did.

Denise confessed: "There was this very famous Formula 1 driver...this was a few years ago. Should I name him? Eddie Irvine.

"He was a bit of a one with the ladies and just thought that every woman he met fancied him.

"He kept asking me out when I lived in Los Angeles and I thought, 'I'm just going to pretend that I'm going to meet him for a date'."

Denise then explained that Eddie was living in New York at the time and didn't realise she was miles away in LA, adding: "I know, this is actually really quite naughty!"

She continued: "He booked a restaurant and I said, 'Yeah, I'll be there...'

"I had a friend who was living in New York and I said, 'Please, please just go to the restaurant just so I know he's there'. She messaged me and said, 'He's here, he's sat at the table'.

"He was sat there for ages!"

'REALLY MEAN'

Denise's story was met with gasps from the studio audience, including presenter Steph McGovern.

But she continued: "He said, 'When are you going to get here?' And I said, 'I'm stuck in traffic. He asked how long I was going to be and I said, 'About five hours, I'm in LA'."

Denise said she then told Eddie it was April Fools' Day and was met with "joking" messages of abuse back.

When Steph told Denise it was "really mean", she replied: "I know...but he did sort of deserve it though!"

Earlier this month, The Sun exclusively revealed that Denise is single again after splitting with her fiancè, Eddie Boxshall.

Denise ended her engagement to Eddie, 47, after discovering he had been having phone sex and meeting women behind her back.

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The actress had been with commodities trader Eddie for seven years.

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In a statement, Denise confirmed the split and said: "I will always treasure the good times we spent together and the memories made."

He has now been replaced on Channel 4's Celebrity Gogglebox by Denise's close pal Kimberley Walsh.

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