Denise Welch has set the record straight after a bizarre rumour claiming she’d been involved in a hot air balloon crash started circulating following her absence from Loose Women

Denise Welsh has set fans straight after a bonkers rumour claiming she had gone missing after a hot air balloon crash started circulating

Denise Welsh has set fans straight after a bonkers rumour claiming she had gone missing after a hot air balloon crash started swirling. The Coronation Street star, 66, concerned her followers after taking a break from Loose Women, prompting some to bizarrely suggest the mum-of-one had last been seen sailing the skies of France.

On Saturday, unsubstantiated reports spread, alleging that Denise had ‘gone missing’ in a rogue hot air balloon with three tourists. However, in response to the baseless rumours, the star shared several hilarious posts on her social media, mocking the claims with a Simpsons meme, quipping: “Thank goodness they found me”.

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Denise Welch mocked the bonkers rumours with this hilarious reply(Image: denise_welch/instagram)

The comedy sequence began when Denise reposted an article that read: ‘Hot Air Balloon Carrying Denise Welch Disappears En Route from the UK to France’.

Denise poked mocked the post, saying: “Thank goodness they found me!!!” alongside several laughing emojis. Shortly after, she shared a picture of a Simpsons character waving from a hot air balloon.

She then reposted a tweet from X that read: “Lady Gaga begins search for Denise Welch and the lost hot air balloon herself – ‘I am looking for Densy’”, she said. Denise captioned the post: “There’s hope for me yet!!”

Meanwhile, another user on X shared a photo of Denise with Hollywood A-listers, Sir Michael Caine, 92, with the caption: “BREAKING: Sir Michael Caine breaks leg catching Denise Welch who fell out of a hot air balloon earlier today.”

Tying up proceedings, Denise posted a final video with her son Matty Healy’s fiancee, Gabbriette Bechtel, striding toward the camera with the text: “When you’ve been missing for hours above France in a balloon!!”

The star joked: ‘Thank goodness they found her!’ with this Simpsons meme(Image: denise_welch/instagram)

Despite her recent absence from Loose Women, Denise told us she has no plans to quit the show.

The actress who has been a regular on the ITV daytime show since 2005, said: “I love being on the show, I did have a break for a few years but I love it right now. It fits into my lifestyle really well and I’ve no plans of leaving.

“I love catching up with the girls and we all support each other. Believe you me, If I didn’t get on with everybody then I wouldn’t be doing it, I’m at an age now where I don’t need to.”

Talking at the Royal Television Society awards, Denise continued, “I’ve been sharing my stories for over two decades now and I always believe that you have a responsibility on the show to share you opinion if you’ve got one.

“We’ve all gone through different things and we all support each other. I’m 67 this year and It’s the only show on television, I believe, that truly celebrates women and ageing.”

She added with a laugh, “I’m quite gobby. My opinions aren’t going to change!”