TELEVISION star Denise Welch has revealed how she will spend Christmas with her ex-husband Tim Healy and his new lover.

The Loose Women presenter said Mr Healy and his new partner, Joan Anderton, will join her and her fiancé, Lincoln Townley, for the festive season.

The 53-year-old revealed her plans as she switched on the Christmas lights at the Metrocentre in Gateshead on Saturday.

Ms Welch, from Ebchester, near Consett in County Durham, said: “We will only have one day this year for Christmas because of panto and everything and both partners will be there.”

She also told how she will not be touching booze over Christmas after vowing to quit alcohol when she watched a video of herself after a heavy drinking session.

Ms Welch said: “I’ve stopped drinking. I don’t plan to drink ever again.

I won’t even be having a tipple at Christmas. I’ve stopped drinking and that’s it.”

Ms Welch was joined by Lincoln, 39, and her son Louis, 11, at the event which helped raise money for children's charity Pathways 4 All, which she is patron of.

During the lights switch-on she told the crowd that it had been a difficult year but thanked fans for their support.

She said: “2012 has been a bit of a tough year for me. I lost my mum in May and I spilt with Tim.

"Tim and I are still best of friends and we are all having dinner together tomorrow night.

“I have had huge support from the Geordies and from the bottom of my heart I just want to say thank you from me and Tim and the whole family.”