EXC: Denise Welch gushes about becoming a grandmother – while joking it’s ‘taken pressure off’ Matty

Denise Welch gushed about becoming a grandmother for the first time while speaking exclusively to MailOnline at the Bake Off Musical press night on Monday.

The 64-year-old Loose Women panelist broke down in tears as she announced the arrival of her first grandchild during Friday’s episode of the ITV daytime show.

Denise, who is married to painter Lincoln Townley, revealed that her stepson Lewis and his wife Lizzie welcomed a baby boy ‘two days ago’.

But now he jokes that the newest addition to the family has taken the pressure off his actor son Louis, 22, and The 1975 rocker Matty Healy, 33.

When asked about the baby news in the West End sitcom, which is playing at the Noël Coward Theatre, Denise initially said: “Well all I can say is we’re Nana and Grandad and it’s a little boy, but I can’t say about the name or…yes.’

Hilarious: But now she’s joked that the newest addition to the family has taken the pressure off her actor son Louis, 22, and 1975 rocker Matty Healy, 33 (Denise and Matty pictured in 2011)

However, she soon elaborated, admitting that she had asked Lewis and Lizzie for permission to talk about their firstborn to avoid any drama.

Denise said, ‘I I was very careful to say to my stepson and his beautiful wife Lizzie, “What can I say?” because I know that recently Sharon Osbourne had given away Kelly’s name and then I saw all of Kelly’s social media… so I absolutely, you know, respected that.

“Even though Lewis is not my biological son, I feel just as connected to this baby as I do. And Lincoln has been so emotional. It really took him by surprise how excited he was about it.

Denise married her husband Lincoln Townley in 2013 and was previously married to actor Tim Healy from 1988 to 2012, with whom she shares Matty and Louis with.

She continued: ‘You know, he’s our first grandchild. I mean, my boys, Matty and Louis, are thrilled that it’s taken the pressure off of them.

‘He’s only a week old so I’m Nana and Lincoln is going to be the grandpa and we want to be the fun ones. We want you to want to come to Nana and Grandad all the time.

“To mention one name, Sir Michael Caine told me, ‘Grandchildren fill a hole in your heart you didn’t know was there,’ and I think my mother always said she wasn’t ready for the love she felt for Matthew.” when she first saw him.

Delighted: The 64-year-old Loose Women panelist broke down in tears as she announced the arrival of her first grandchild during Friday’s episode of the ITV daytime show

I knew I would love my son, but I was overwhelmed and I think that’s what everyone says.

‘Grandchildren are a great invention because you can do all the things, A, that you did wrong with yours and, B, you mess them up and then send them back. So we’re very excited.

During Friday’s Loose Women, an emotional Denise told viewers: ‘My husband and I became grandma and grandpa two days ago!’

Clearly very touched by the joyous family news, Denise added: ‘My stepson Lewis and his wife Lizzie have given birth to a beautiful boy.

I can’t say much more because they haven’t done the photo reveal and everything, so I’ll do it as soon as I can.

“I have opted for nana because when you have mixed families you have to distribute the baby among so many people.”

Family: Denise, who is married to painter Lincoln Townley, revealed that her stepson Lewis and his wife Lizzie welcomed a baby boy ‘two days ago’

‘My mother was a nanny and I had a nanny. He selfishly wanted Lincoln to be “gromp”. In the northeast we say “grompa” so I guess it would be spelled GROMP A.

“But he’s going to be Lewis’s grandpa and mom, Bev, she’s going to be the babysitter, and Lizzie’s mom and dad are just thinking about what they’re going to be.”

Presenters Charlene, Sophie Morgan and Brenda Edwards offered their congratulations as the audience cheered for Denise.

Last year, Denise congratulated her stepson Lewis and his wife Elizabeth after the couple confirmed they were expecting their first child.

The former Celebrity Big Brother housemate shared the news on Instagram in September while reposting a 12-week ultrasound of the fetus.

Captioning the image, he wrote: ‘Congratulations @lewtownley and @elizabeth_townley_cope on your first baby. We are delighted.

The couple, who celebrated their first wedding anniversary on August 13, previously revealed that the baby is expected to arrive on March 22.

Good news: Last year, Denise congratulated her stepson Lewis and his wife Elizabeth after the couple confirmed they were expecting their first child.