Denise van Outen’s ex Lee Mead says it was a ‘lightbulb moment’ when he met his fiancée Issy in a local coffee shop as he opens up about their ‘unspoken connection’

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Lee Mead says he instantly knew there was something special about his fiancée, Issy Szumniak, when they first met at a coffee shop. He describes feeling an immediate, unspoken connection with her.

The 44-year-old West End actor met his future spouse, a makeup artist, eight years ago while picking up his children from school. They’re now making plans to get married.

Lee and his ex-wife, Denise van Outen, who he was married to from 2009 to 2013, have a 15-year-old daughter named Betsy. Issy, meanwhile, has a son named Alfie from a previous relationship.

Lee described the first time he met her as a moment of instant connection. He told The Mirror that he made eye contact with Issy as soon as he walked in, and she was with Alfie. He recalled walking over and introducing himself, asking ‘Hi, I’m Lee, who’s this?’

Once they had gone, I asked the cafe owner if the woman was single. Later that evening, she actually messaged him, asking if Lee was seeing anyone.

We clicked immediately. It felt natural and comfortable, and I felt completely safe and at peace.

The couple is currently buying a house in Kent and plans to get married once they’ve moved in and gotten settled.

In the interview, he mentioned maintaining a friendly relationship with his former partner, Denise, stating they remain ‘good friends’.

Lee announced his engagement to fiancée Issy in February 2023.

Lee Mead, the actor who won the BBC’s Any Dream Will Do in 2007, posted a photo on Instagram with a make-up artist and aesthetician, who was showing off her new diamond ring.

The couple both took to their respective Instagram pages to announce the news to their followers.

West End performer Lee wrote: ‘So this happened today, and my beautiful Issy said yes. 

‘We’re both so happy and can’t wait to spend forever together.’

Issy posted: ‘6 years & forever with you 05/02/23.’

Lee, who previously appeared in ‘Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,’ began dating Issy, a mother of one child, in 2018.

Lee and Denise first met on the TV show Any Dream Will Do, where Denise was a judge and Lee competed as a contestant, and they later married.

The couple married in the Seychelles in 2009 and had a daughter, Betsy, in 2010. They later separated, with Denise confirming the split in June 2013.

Denise recently shared with The Sun’s Fabulous magazine that she doesn’t regret marrying Lee, describing him as a wonderful person.

‘There was no big fall out and we got each other through really.

‘We’re friends so we supported each other.’

They were granted a ‘quickie’ divorce at the Central Family Court in just 90 seconds in 2015.

They first separated in June 2013, but have stayed friendly while raising their daughter, Betsy, together.

Judge Heather MacGregor finalized the divorce after a six-year marriage, determining that the relationship was beyond repair and the couple had been living separately for over two years.

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2026-01-22 04:51