Television presenter Denise Welch has quashed unfounded claims about her disappearance during a hot air balloon trip, using humour to respond to the viral speculation.
Denise Welch, the 66-year-old television presenter known for her role on “Loose Women,” has addressed unfounded claims circulating on social media regarding her purported disappearance during a hot air balloon adventure. The rumours began to spread on Saturday, March 29, suggesting that she had “gone missing” while travelling over the English Channel en route to France with a group of three holidaymakers.
The situation escalated as fabricated reports emerged, claiming that Denise had mysteriously vanished after her balloon drifted out of sight and was subsequently involved in a “deadly crash.” In response to the swirling speculation, Denise took to Instagram to post a series of humorous updates, effectively dispelling the false narrative.
In one post, she shared a headline reading, “Hot Air Balloon Carrying Denise Welch Disappears En Route from the UK to France,” and quipped, “Thank goodness they found me!!!” accompanied by several laughing emojis. She embraced the absurdity of the situation further by posting an image of a character from the popular animated series “The Simpsons,” waving from a hot air balloon.
Denise’s light-hearted engagement with the outrageous claims continued with a repost of a tweet that claimed pop icon Lady Gaga was searching for her. The tweet stated, “Lady Gaga begins search for Denise Welch and the lost hot air balloon herself – ‘I am looking for Densy’,” to which Denise playfully responded, “There’s hope for me yet!”
The humorous discourse did not stop there. Another social media post featured an edited image of Denise alongside Sir Michael Caine, captioned: “BREAKING: Sir Michael Caine breaks leg catching Denise Welch who fell out of a hot air balloon earlier today.” This further showcased the level of absurdity the situation had reached.
Denise concluded her response to the bizarre saga with a video of her future daughter-in-law, Gabbriette Bechtel, walking towards the camera. The caption read: “When you’ve been missing for hours above France in a balloon!”
The outlandish claims were so widespread that for a brief period, her Wikipedia page was altered to indicate she was last seen “somewhere over the Pyrenees, France.” Fans expressed their confusion and amusement on social media, with many initially believing the reports to be true. Comments ranged from disbelief to humorous takes on the situation, with users engaging in light-hearted banter surrounding Denise’s alleged adventure.
Despite her recent absence from “Loose Women,” Denise reassured her audience that she has no intentions of departing from the show, which she has joined as a panellist since 2005. She remarked on her love for the programme, stating, “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.”
Denise expressed gratitude for the camaraderie shared among the presenters, highlighting that their support for one another is a key aspect of her continued involvement. As she approaches her 67th birthday, she remains committed to sharing her opinions and experiences, contributing to discussions on a show she believes celebrates women and ageing. “I’m quite gobby. My opinions aren’t going to change!” she stated, underlining her enduring presence in the television landscape.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.independent.co.uk/lifestyle/denise-welch-missing-hot-air-balloon-rumour-b2723891.html – This article supports Denise Welch’s response to false rumors about her disappearance during a hot air balloon adventure, where she humorously addressed the unfounded claims on social media.
- https://www.the-independent.com/tv/lifestyle/denise-welch-missing-hot-air-balloon-rumour-b2723891.html – This article also details Denise Welch’s reaction to false rumors of her disappearance, highlighting her humorous posts on social media to dispel the speculation.
- https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0920394/ – Although not directly related to the hot air balloon incident, this page provides background information on Denise Welch, including her role on ‘Loose Women’.
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denise_Welch – Denise Welch’s Wikipedia page, which briefly stated she was last seen over the Pyrenees during the hoax, offers general information about her career and recent updates.
- https://www.itv.com/loosewomen – This ITV page for ‘Loose Women’ provides context about the show where Denise Welch is a regular panellist, supporting her statement about enjoying her role on the programme.
- https://www.indypress.co.uk/stories/entertainment/denise-welch-on-loose-women-im-not-going-anywhere – Articles like this one discuss Denise Welch’s love for ‘Loose Women’ and her stated intention to remain on the show, aligning with her recent comments.
- https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/tv/loose-women-star-denise-welch-31314171 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/tv/denise-welchs-five-word-response-31315365 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.devonlive.com/news/celebs-tv/denise-welch-sets-record-straight-10066833 – Please view link – unable to able to access data
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative is relatively recent, referencing events that occurred on Saturday, March 29. However, it does not mention any current updates beyond that date.
Quotes check
Score:
7
Notes:
While Denise Welch’s Instagram posts and quotes are mentioned, their original dates or earliest references could not be verified through an online search. They seem to be original responses to recent events.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from Manchester Evening News, a well-established local news source known for its reliable reporting.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims of Denise addressing false rumours and her responses on social media are plausible and consistent with her known public persona.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be recent and plausible, with well-established sources supporting its core claims. Denise Welch’s responses to the rumours align with her public image, and the reliability of the Manchester Evening News adds credibility.
