Denise van Outen breaks her silence on split with ex Eddie Boxshall saying ‘I don’t like to be taken advantage of’

DENISE van Outen has broken her silence following her shock split from fiancé Eddie Boxshall.

The actress, 47, finished their seven-year relationship in January after discovering Eddie had been sending X-rated messages to other women.

She decided to walk away to maintain her self-respect and is already looking ahead to creating new, better memories.

Speaking on Radio 2 this morning, she said: “The one thing I’m really proud of myself for is I do know when to walk away and I don’t like to be taken advantage of.

"Sometimes it’s been to the detriment of my own career or in my own relationships, but I just feel like it’s really important as a woman to have self-worth and self-respect.

"I’ve always tried to maintain that in anything that I do in life, generally. More so now as a mother because I feel like I’m a role model and I’ve got to set an example."

Looking to the future, optimistic Denise is sure the bad times will be short-lived.

She continued: "Do you know what? The bad times are always followed by good times and that’s what I always look forward to.

"I think you just ride the wave of the bad times knowing that eventually you will get to a good place.”

While Denise appears to be on the up, Eddie spoke of the impact the split has had on his health.

In an Instagram comment, below a snap of him working out in the gym, he wrote: “I’m just back into my training as I lost over a stone in weight due to stress and anxiety over the last four months."

He added: "Exercise helps my mental health as well."

And he was emotional just a week ago - but not because of the break-up.

He told his followers: "I've had a really bad time over the last couple of months.

"These aren't tears of upset, they're tears of joy because one of my best pals has just been given the all clear for his cancer.

"And this puts everything that anyone goes through into perspective."

Eddie added: "You've got one life, stay healthy and live it. Dan, love you boy. Get in there!"