'Let's praise drug-free stars', says Van Outen

Denise Van Outen has called for stars like Leona Lewis to be celebrated more than artists such as Amy Winehouse.

Denise, who was a judge on the BBC talent search I'd Do Anything, compared the attention the former X Factor winner receives with that paid to those with drug problems.

In an interview with Cosmopolitan magazine she said: "I couldn't believe it when I opened the paper the other day and saw a massive picture of Amy Winehouse, completely off her face.

"What bothered me was that in the corner was a tiny story congratulating Leona Lewis for storming the US charts. If you ask me, we should be bigging her up, not people who are struggling with drugs."

She added: "God, and to think I thought I was wild when I was younger. Now I hear stories and I'm like, 'I'd never do that!'"

Denise, who's currently dating Any Dream Will Do winner Lee Mead, also revealed why having a relationship with a man in his 20s was right for her.

She said: "Personally, a man in his 20s works for me. In my experience, single men in their mid to late 30s tend to be single for a reason. The good ones get snapped up."

Speaking about her past, she said she'd sometimes been 'too much to handle' for men in her life, adding: "In fact, some of my previous relationships have ended because I haven't been needy enough.

"It's all too easy to attack WAGs for being gold-diggers but, believe me, there are plenty of men who need that type of girl."

The full interview appears in the July issue of Cosmopolitan, on sale Thursday.