Actress and television personality Denise Welch has taken an unexpected leap into the pop charts this festive season, releasing a hyper-pop Christmas anthem titled 'Slayyy Bells' in collaboration with the chocolate brand Celebrations.
From Soap Star to Hyper-Pop Diva
The 67-year-old Loose Women panellist and former Coronation Street star has embraced what she calls a 'third act', trading in traditional carols for a camp, chaotic track. The music video features Welch clad in red leather and oversized sunglasses, fully embodying a superstar diva. The song was released on December 6, 2025, and is now in contention for the Christmas number one spot.
Speaking to Metro from a holiday in Los Angeles, Welch revealed a key motivation behind the project: the joy of embarrassing her children. "[I was] thinking about what my kids would think," she said. "Because embarrassing your kids is one of life's great joys. It's why we have them, let's be honest."
Family Traditions and Festive Chaos
The song offers a glimpse into Welch's own unconventional Christmas traditions. A notable lyric explains that her family has their main festive meal on Christmas Eve, a practice started by her late mother. "We lost my mum 13 years ago, but we always had dinner and still do on Christmas Eve," Denise shared. "We never knew why, but it really, really works."
She later discovered the tradition is Scandinavian, joking that her mother had "never been as far as Norway". The arrangement means "nobody is slaving over a hot stove" on Christmas Day itself. The exception is her ex-husband, actor Tim Healy, who prepares a roast ham with help from Denise's current husband, Lincoln. The ham is so renowned it temporarily converts her pescatarian sister. "She is a full-on non-meat-eating pescatarian for 364 days, but the only meal she gives it up for is Tim Healy's ham," Welch laughed.
Her son, Matty Healy of the band The 1975, showed his support in the comments of the music video with a simple "lol". Denise also humorously noted that despite mixing with cool artists like Charli XCX through Matty, none have yet invited her into the studio. "I'm sure that time is imminent," she quipped.
Embracing a 'Third Act' as a Fashion Icon
This musical venture is part of a broader new chapter for Welch, who has been dubbed the 'queen of the huns' by a popular Instagram account. She recently attended the GQ Man of the Year party as a correspondent, dressed in a fashion-forward leather outfit. "It's quite funny being this ageing fashionista at my age," she admitted. "I know nothing about high fashion, literally nothing. I'm enjoying it because I really am seeing this as a sort of third act."
This new status brings pressure, especially with her son Matty's upcoming wedding to model Gabbriette Bechtel. "Now I've become the number one fashionista of the United Kingdom, I feel that there's a lot of pressure on me to perform fashion-wise," she coyly revealed, adding that Lincoln will also have to "up his game".
Welch also has the unique distinction of having appeared in every British soap opera. Her fame reaches surprising corners, including Tallinn, Estonia, where she was recognised by fans of Waterloo Road while on a cruise. "To think that I'm quite a name in Estonia. I love that," she said.
Looking ahead, Welch has acting projects lined up, including the comedy Stepping Up and a return to Waterloo Road. With a potential Christmas number one and a burgeoning career as a fashion icon, Denise Welch shows no signs of slowing down. As she beamed: "Always leave them wanting more."
