Denise Van Outen on why her relationship with Eddie Boxshall is her longest one yet
Watch: Denise Van Outen and Eddie Boxshall meet laughter coach, Pete Cann, in their new podcast, Before We Say I Do...
Celebrity Gogglebox couple Denise Van Outen and Eddie Boxshall are celebrating their seventh year together this year and for Van Outen, it’s her longest relationship yet.
Speaking on their new podcast Before We Say I Do, the Dancing On Ice star revealed that she’s actually surprised the pair are still together!
Talking to Eddie she said: “When I met you in — what was it? 2014? I never thought that I would still be with you because I've never gone past three years in a relationship. This is my longest relationship. We're coming up to seven years!”
Listen: Eddie Boxshall reveals why Denise Van Outen’s ‘filthy’ humour is a winner with him!
Obviously, the length of their relationship is synonymous with the mythical seven-year itch, a fabled time when couples re-evaluate their relationship and either stick with it or leave.
This is exactly the reason Van Outen wants to explore all the therapy options the couple try in the podcast.
Read more: Denise Van Outen on how laughter therapy diffused a Valentine's bust up
“By having therapy now and counselling as a couple, we should be able to get past the seven years,” she said.
Having been in the limelight since she was young, Van Outen’s relationships have been well documented.
Her first high profile relationship was with Dodgy guitarist Andy Millar in 1996; she then dated Jamiroquai front man Jay Kay for three years. In 2009, she married West End star Lee Mead. The pair had daughter Betsy in 2010 but were divorced by 2014.
So, what’s the secret for her current relationship? Well, for Van Outen and Boxshall it’s all in the laughter!
“I like to laugh a lot,” Denise told The Laughter Man Pete Cann, who was taking them through laughter therapy for the podcast.
“I've got to be honest, out of any guy I've ever dated, Eddie makes me laugh the most, and always has done. I think that was the clincher for me from day one, our very first date, which was a blind date.
“We had never met, we knew nothing about each other — we just laughed a lot — and I'm proud to say that we've continued to laugh for the seven years that we've been together!”
Read more: Denise Van Outen opens up about her love life: 'I’ve let work take over my relationship'
Van Outen, who describes laughter as the ‘glue’ between her and Boxshall, said she’s really surprised when friends tell her that they never laugh with their partners.
“I don't understand it when my friends say that they're with partners and they don't ever laugh or their partner never makes them laugh,” she exclaimed.
“What's the point? I think that's the main thing in a relationship.”
Boxshall agreed, saying Van Outen’s “filthy” humour keeps him constantly on his toes.
“I don't know what's going to come out of our mouth at any stage,” he laughed.
“I'm always walking around on eggshells — but they're quite nice eggshells —because I know whatever she says or does, there's going to be some sort of humour or laughter attached to it.”
The pair also believe having a giggle together not only makes their relationship more fun, but it also helps diffuse arguments.
Read more: Denise Van Outen admits that very few people ever see her 'vulnerable side'
“Even when we're angry, or there's something that really annoys both of us… we will always resolve everything with laughter, which is quite unusual,” stated Van Outen.
“It never goes to a place where it gets worse when we have big shouty arguments. We end up laughing, so for me, it's probably the main thing in our relationship that's kept it strong.”
Hear Denise Van Outen and Eddie Boxshall try out laughter therapy with expert Pete Cann in the latest episode of their podcast, Before We Say I do. Listen now on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
Watch: See how Denise Van Outen and Eddie Boxshall get on with psychotherapy in the last episode of Before We Say I Do
