Denise Welch trolled over kind offer to Madeleine McCann’s family as new police search begins

TV personality Denise Welch has found herself at the centre of online backlash after recounting a heartfelt gesture she once extended to Madeleine McCann’s family during a segment on Loose Women. The discussion came amid breaking news that a new police search for Madeleine is underway in Portugal, nearly two decades after her disappearance in 2007.

During the June 3 broadcast, Denise, 67, revealed she had previously reached out to Madeleine’s grandmother, Susan Healy, after publicly supporting the family on the show. Touched by the connection, she later invited the McCanns and their twins, Amelie and Sean, to watch her perform on Dancing On Ice back in 2011, noting that the children were big fans of the show.

However, she received a letter explaining why they couldn’t attend. Denise shared, “Susan wrote to me and said: ‘Gerry and Kate would love to bring the kids. But if they’re seen smiling or laughing in public, the hate they receive is horrendous – they can’t risk it anymore.’”

While some praised her compassion and her stance against the harsh public treatment of Kate and Gerry McCann, others online accused her of centring the narrative around herself. One critic on social media wrote: “Oh of course Den making the McCann story about her.” Another added: “Watch Denise make this all about herself!”

Despite the trolling, Denise’s comments sparked renewed empathy for the McCann family, especially as a fresh search effort begins with police draining wells and scanning new areas connected to the prime suspect, Christian Brueckner.