Denise Welch says she’s ‘exhausted’ following claims she went missing in a hot air balloon

Denise Welch has responded on live TV after she was the subject of a viral hoax claiming that she had gone missing in a hot air balloon over the north of France.

Over the Loose Women host was the subject of unsubstantiated reports that a journey she had gone on from the UK to France by hot air balloon had gone awry.

Speaking on Monday (31 March) the 66-year-old old admitted that the situation had left her exhausted after she was inundated with messages from concerned friends.

Welch said that she was watching a film on Saturday when a journalist friend messaged her with one of the fake reports to see if she was ok.

She added: “An hour later, she panicked, and I started getting messages going, 'just checking you're ok'. I thought, what on earth are people talking about?!"

After reading the article she explained: “Denise Welch is worrying many of her fans that I'd gone missing in a hot air balloon over the Pyrenees and the Kent Police put out a thing that they were actively looking for me. Then the meme's started.”

Continuing she said: “My husband is in Singapore on business and my son lives in Los Angeles. They both apparently woke up to see, respectively, their mother and their wife missing over the Pyrenees in a hot air balloon and both went back to sleep!"

Her Loose Women colleague Jane Moore responded by saying: “We're very glad you made it back today.”

“Thank you. I'm exhausted, but thank you,” replied an exasperated Welch.

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At the weekend Welch shared a series of posts on Instagram poking fun at the bogus stories.

The 66-year-old shared a headline reading: “Hot air balloon carrying Denise Welch disappears en route from the UK to France.” Responding with laughing emojis, Welch added: “Thank goodness they found me!!!”

“There's hope for me yet!!” she said in response to a tweet that joked: “Lady Gaga begins search for Denise Welch and the lost hot air balloon herself – ‘I am looking for Densy.’”

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Welch also shared a video of casting assistant Kristian Wall flying a paper hot air balloon with “Denise” written on it.

“So lucky are those who got a sighting of my journey,” she joked in the post.

In addition, a friend of Welch’s told The Sun: “Denise found the whole thing hilarious but was baffled as to why anyone would say she’s adrift in a balloon. Her family has been laughing about it.”

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It comes after Welch’s son Matty Healy and his band The 1975 were announced as one of the headliners at the year’s Glastonbury festival.

The British band will be joined by US pop star Olivia Rodrigo and icon Neil Young as the top acts at this year’s festival.

Other acts on the lineup include Brit Award and Grammy-winning star Charli XCX, singer RAYE, Grammy-winning rapper Doechii, British hip-hop artist Loyle Carner, Scottish rock band Biffy Clyro and rapper Busta Rhymes.

It was announced last year that Rod Stewart will take on the Sunday teatime Legends Slot on the Pyramid Stage.

Healy is currently engaged to model Gabbriette Bechtel, with the news being confirmed in June 2024.

Speaking on Loose Women at the time, Welch said: “I woke up this morning to the fact they’ve put it on Instagram. Instagram official, he has got engaged to Gabbriette Bechtel, Gabbriette, she’s known as. She’s from Los Angeles, she is absolutely gorgeous,” said Welch, before bizarrely adding: “She does have a rat.”

“We couldn’t be happier. She is everything I would want in a daughter-in-law,” said Welch.