DENISE Van Outen insists pulses wonét be racing when she makes her debut as a TV nurse.

éI didnét wear any make-up. I had my hair scraped back. Iéve got Doctor Marten shoes on and thick black tights. Ités very un-sexy,é she smiles.

Former Big Breakfast star Denise plays new nurse Kim Blakeney in a ninth series of ITV1és Where The Heart Is, moving up from London to Yorkshire with screen son Callum, eight.

Having taken the West End and Broadway by storm as Roxie Hart in Chicago, Denise went on to star in a revival of Andrew Lloyd Webberés one woman musical Tell Me On A Sunday. éThat gave me the bug for acting,é she explains.

Even so, the Essex-born presenter and actress turned down an offer last year to become a Queen Vic regular. éIt wasnét just EastEnders, there were a couple of other things as well. They just werenét the right characters for me to play é they were too predictable.

éIt was said in the press that I only want to work with credible actors and that I dissed EastEnders. I never have done. Iém a fan of the show and Iém not ruling it out in the future, if theyéd have me. But it wasnét the right part for me at this particular time in my career.é

Denise, 31, arrives in Skelthwaite early next month in the second episode of the heartwarming Sunday night series. Despite her stage success, sheés still trailed by the lads mags, eager to see her in uniform and, no doubt, planning comparisons with ex-nurse Abi Titmuss.

Ités clear that sheés keen to escape the long shadow of shows like Big Breakfast and Something For The Weekend. éIéve stepped away from that é it was all a long time ago. I went into this wanting to play against type. I wanted to do something that was a bit of a challenge for me as an actress

éItés funny, on my first day I was told that some of the crew were expecting me to come in and be very énudge, nudge, wink, winké. People think youére going to be full of confidence but I was absolutely petrified. My first day of filming was scarier than doing my opening night of Tell Me On A Sunday.é

She confesses that being a TV mum to Callum, played by Beans Balawi, brought out her maternal instincts. éThereés no denying that I am broody. Iém dating at the moment, but ités very, very early days, so I have to wait. I donét know if Iéve met the right person yet. But as soon as I do é guaranteed, Iéll definitely want to have children.é

As ever, her love life é including a long relationship with Stretford-born Jamiroquai star Jay Kay é is a constant source of interest to the gossip columns. éIém supposed to be dating all these various male celebrities, some of them I know and some of them I donét,é she laughs.

In fact, her new love is record company boss Ferdie Unger-Hamilton, 34, the ex-boyfriend of singer Dido. éWeéve done dinner dates but Iéve been living up north for five months and heés London-based. So weéve met maybe one day a week. Iém just doing what most young women do in that situation.é

Despite their enforced separation, sheés enjoyed her time éup northé during the last five months of shooting. éI quite like being on my own sometimes. Who wouldnét?

éWhen I finish filming I get to do all my little pampering things. I have a long hot bath and face packs and learn the lines for the next day. Sometimes we meet up in the pub in these tiny little villages. The locals arenét interested in us é theyére more interested in a pint or farming. But I havenét been drinking during the week. You canét afford to wake up with a hangover when youéve got to be on set at 7am.é

Although thereés little visible evidence, Denise claims to have put on weight while filming in Huddersfield. éThe cateringés good and you tend to eat more. This is a thing that Iém told you get called ételly bellyé é and Iéve got it. But Iéve enjoyed stuffing my face.é

Happily for those Carry On Nurse lads mags, her uniform still fits. Having sold off her bras in the past to raise money for breast cancer charities, she now has something else lined up. éIéve got a signed Kim Blakeney nurseés outfit that will be donated to one of the cancer charities.é

Where The Heart Is returns to ITV1 later this month

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