Denise Van Outen Issues Heartfelt Apology to Johnny Vaughan Over Big Breakfast Departure
In a candid radio interview, television personality Denise Van Outen has offered a sincere apology to her former Big Breakfast co-host Johnny Vaughan, admitting she "let him down" by leaving the iconic Channel 4 programme prematurely.
Revisiting a Fractured Partnership
The pair, who became household names presenting The Big Breakfast together during the late 1990s, experienced a significant falling out after Van Outen's departure in 1999. Their once "unbreakable" sibling-like bond, as Van Outen previously described it, became strained when she discovered Vaughan had been renegotiating his contract separately.
Appearing on Vaughan's Radio X drive time show, the conversation turned unexpectedly personal when Vaughan asked whether Van Outen would discuss friends who had disappointed her in her upcoming stage show. "No, not really. Because I don't really feel like any of my friends have ever let me down," Van Outen initially responded before turning the spotlight on herself.
A Long-Overdue Apology
When questioned if she had ever been the one to let a friend down, Van Outen admitted: "A million times over." With characteristic humour, she noted her apology list was "very long" before addressing Vaughan directly. "Do you know what? I'm going to apologise to you first," she told him earnestly.
"You're going to like this, because I feel like that I left the Big Breakfast too early," the Celebrity Gogglebox star continued. Vaughan immediately agreed: "You did! Yeah, you let me down." Van Outen conceded: "I did let you down."
Love, Money and Missed Opportunities
Vaughan referenced "that funky guy with the big hat" – Van Outen's then-boyfriend, Jamiroquai frontman Jay Kay – as influencing her decision to leave. "I was in love; I was young," Van Outen defended, referencing the relationship that lasted from 1999 to 2001.
The presenter explained she was offered "so many opportunities" at the time, with Vaughan suggesting she "started smelling the dollars" after "everyone was waving money" at her. "They weren't waving the dollar; they were waving opportunity!" Van Outen retorted, highlighting the professional crossroads she faced.
A Friendship Restored
Despite their past difficulties, the pair have managed to rebuild their relationship in recent years. After several years of not speaking, they reconnected during the pandemic, realising their disagreements were "not worth it." Van Outen told The Mirror they had messaged frequently during lockdown, reflecting on their "silly niggles and arguments."
Vaughan added to Metro last September: "I've only ever found [Denise] hilarious. She might have fallen out with me, but I never fell out with her. I just love Denise; won't hear a word against her." He acknowledged his own insensitivities and apologised for not spotting certain issues in their working relationship.
The Legacy of The Big Breakfast
At its peak, The Big Breakfast attracted two million viewers per episode. After Van Outen's departure, replacements were brought in but ratings plummeted as producers struggled to recreate the unique chemistry between the original presenters. Van Outen did return briefly for Vaughan's final three months in 2001, but their professional partnership never fully recovered its original magic.
Fans reacting to the interview clip shared on Instagram expressed nostalgia for their partnership. "Great banter just like the old days, please bring back The Big Breakfast and have these two present it again," commented one follower. Others described them as a "legendary" duo who "made my mornings" on the show.
Moving Forward Together
Van Outen has previously spoken about the pain of their fallout, telling Loose Women in 2017: "Obviously, I gave it a second go, but a similar thing happened again. It's hard because I loved him so much, and I still do." She added that whenever she sees Vaughan, because he "makes me laugh so much, more than anyone I've ever met, I just forget about it."
The pair have worked together periodically since their Big Breakfast days, including a stint on Capital Radio in 2008 that ended when Van Outen claimed Vaughan controlled the broadcast and would turn her microphone down. Thankfully, their relationship has now come "full-circle," as Van Outen described it, allowing them to be friends once again.
Vaughan summarised their enduring connection: "No matter how we've fallen out, she's always been there for me, and I hope she feels I've always been there for her." Their public reconciliation serves as a testament to the resilience of a friendship that survived professional tensions and personal differences.
