Strictly Come Dancing Star Denise Van Outen Splits from Husband Lee Mead

Strictly Come Dancing star Denise Van Outen has separated from her husband, theatre actor Lee Mead. A formal announcement from the Van Outen's spokesperson confirmed the news.

"Denise Van Outen and Lee Mead are sad to confirm they have decided to separate," a statement said, "The couple remain the best of friends, with their daughter Betsy as their number one priority. The family ask for privacy at this time."

The couple was last pictured together on 21 July, when they attended a product launch at Hamleys Toy Shop, with Betsy.

"They're going their separate ways. It's very sad but they have grown apart," a source told The Sun, "The spark just faded after a while. It's very sad but they're still best mates and hope it will stay that way. There hasn't been a big blowout but they are now having a trial separation and coming to terms with going their separate ways. They hardly saw each other over the last nine months because of their work commitments."

"The distance just became too difficult to overcome. They had grown apart - and fallen out of love," the insider added.

The split came after Mead returned home from work in the US in May. He has since moved out of the couple's London home.

"Lee will still come to the house to look after Betsy because he and Denise still genuinely like each other even though their romantic relationship has broken down. Denise always hoped they were going to find a way to work things out when Lee got back and they started spending more time together. But it wasn't to be," the source said.

Van Outen and Mead met in 2007, when he was a contestant on the BBC show Any Dream Will Do and she was a judge. He went on to win the competition and the two were married in April 2009 in a small and private ceremony in the Seychelles.