Denise Welch has told how her wedding to a man 15 years her junior was like a "fairytale" and reminiscent of a Hollywood movie.
The 55-year-old former 'Coronation Street' actress married Lincoln Townley at a villa on the Algarve in Portugal, with her colleagues from ITV daytime show 'Loose Women' among the guests.
Posing in official photographs for Hello! magazine, the actress said: "This is about being together forever. There's no one who can make me happier."
"This is my fairytale," added Welch, who was divorced from second husband Tim Healy last year.
The newlyweds toasted their vows with orange juice, after both giving up drinking. "Without a doubt I feel and look better without alcohol," she said.
Welch wore a lemon-coloured raw silk and Chantilly lace gown by Sharon Bowen and said: "It was like walking into one of those weddings in an American movie.
"Every time I've watched one of those I've thought I'd love to get married like that. I had no idea how beautiful it was going to be."
Guests included Lisa Maxwell, Shobna Gulati, Carol McGiffin and Andrea McLean from 'Loose Women', as well as Jill Halfpenny, Christopher Biggins and Tricia Penrose.
Publicist Townley said: "My most brilliant achievement was persuading Denise to marry me. I turned 40 last year and I have never met anyone like Denise, never been close to anyone like Denise, never loved anyone like I do Denise.
"We have a very unique connection and I wanted to grasp it with both hands. I've never felt it before. I am proud to call Denise my wife."
The full interview is in the new edition of Hello! magazine which is out now.
