Lee Mead has confirmed that he has tested positive for Covid-19 and will spend Christmas alone due to his 10-day self-isolation period.
The former Holby City star, 39, will be separated from his daughter Betsy, 10, who he shares his ex-wife Denise Van Outen, and his girlfriend Issy Szumniak this Christmas.
His previous plans to have an intimate Christmas Day this year with Betsy, Issy, and her son Alfie, have been derailed by his recent Covid diagnosis.
Coronavirus: Lee Mead has confirmed that he has tested positive for Covid-19 and will spend Christmas alone due to his 10-day self-isolation period (pictured January 2018)
A representative for Lee said he had ‘regular’ coronavirus tests amid rehearsals for a Sleeping Beauty pantomime in Milton Keynes, which was cancelled when Buckinghamshire entered Tier 3.
But he tested positive for coronavirus during his ‘final rehearsal’, despite one test earlier the very same week coming back ‘clear’.
The representative continued: ‘Lee Mead has been struck down with Covid and is now isolating alone for 10 days which means that he will not be in the arms of his girlfriend Issy this Christmas or able to spend time with his daughter Betsy.
‘It was for the first Christmas the four of them – Lee, Betsy, Issy and her son Alfie were going to have a blended family Christmas.
Lonely this Christmas: The former Holby City star, 39, will be separated from his daughter Betsy, 10, who he shares his ex-wife Denise Van Outen, this Christmas (pictured July 2013)
‘Lee’s panto in Milton Keynes got closed last week when Buckinghamshire went into Tier 3 and he had a Covid test as he was leaving the final rehearsal and tested positive!!
‘He had regular tests and the one earlier in the week had been clear.’
The West End star, will sadly spend his ‘favourite time of the year’ alone amid his 10-day Covid-19 isolation period, which falls over Christmas.
Lee’s first ever festive single In My Arms for Christmas, which was released on December 14, reflects the widespread feeling this year of wanting to spend Christmas with family.
But sadly for Lee, and many under the top level Covid-19 restrictions in London and the south east of England, will not be able to reunite with loved ones this week.
Devastating: Lee’s previous plans to have an intimate Christmas Day this year with Betsy, Issy, and her son Alfie, have been derailed by his recent Covid diagnosis (pictured November 2019)
The Casualty actor is trying to spread some festive cheer, as he is giving 1,000 key workers tickets for his 35-date 2021 UK concert tour Lee Mead – My Band And Me.
Lee, who was discovered on BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do, explained: ‘Coming from a family of keyworkers – my father is a postman, my mother a cleaner, my brother a customs officer and sister-in-law is a nurse, I really understand the sacrifices made by this particular sector of the community – and no more so than at Christmas time when the majority of people just want to be with their loved ones.’
His latest Covid-19 news comes after the TV star told of how he hasn’t earned a penny this year after his job opportunities were thwarted by the Covid pandemic.
Lee revealed he had theatre and cruise ship work slated for this year, however it was all cancelled due to the global crisis which struck in March.
Bad news: Holby City star Lee Mead has told how he hasn’t earned a penny this year after his job opportunities were thwarted by the coronavirus pandemic
The actor admitted to The Sun that he regrets leaving Holby three months before Covid-19 hit, because it would have given him a steady income.
He told the publication: ‘It’s been a tough year financially, as everything was pulled, including a tour, cruises and corporate work, so I’ve literally had no financial income all year and I’ve pretty much lived off savings.’
He added: ‘It’s been very stressful, I’m not going to lie, but my family and my partner Izzy have been an amazing support.
‘They’ve picked me up and helped me through it. I don’t want to sound ungrateful, because we’re healthy and safe and I’ve managed to keep my home.’
The entertainer admitted he has friends in ‘less fortunate’ positions, who have lost their homes and now are living with relatives to support them.
Change of plans: The actor revealed he had theatre and cruise ship work slated for this year, but it was all cancelled due to the global crisis (pictured on stage in Cinderella in 2016)
Lee has spent the past five years playing Ben Chiltern in Casualty and then latterly Holby City, admitting he thought he had done all he could with the character.
He said: ‘I had some amazing storylines and did some great stuff, so it felt natural to move on, but I slightly regretted it, because the plan was to go into this year doing a tour, and lots of work and concerts and sing live again and then in March the lockdown hit, so I literally couldn’t do any of the shows.’
In 2018, Lee revealed he had found love again, nearly five years on from his marriage split, with blonde beauty Issy, who looks strikingly similar to his former flame.
The star said romance blossomed with Issy when he ran into her in a coffee shop after he picked his daughter Betsy up from school.
Love: In 2018, Lee revealed he had found love again, nearly five years on from his marriage split, with blonde beauty Issy, who looks strikingly similar to his former flame Denise
Of their initial meeting, he said: ‘We got on really well, but it was a while before I plucked up the courage to ask her on a date.
‘She’s a lovely woman and she’s a parent as well, which I think helps. She’s based in Kent and she’s not in the same business as me; I’m not sure if that’s a good thing or a bad thing!’
‘I’m not one to rush into relationships and I was single for six years, but it’s nice to have found someone.
‘We’ve been together just under a year and it’s going really well. We had a nice weekend together recently and we’re very happy.’
Exes: Lee married first wife Denise in the Seychelles in 2009, after meeting on the 2007 TV show Any Dream Will Do, where she was a judge and he was a contestant
Lee, who is based in Southend, said that he and Denise, who has been dating Eddie Boxshall for six years, put difficult times behind them and are firm friends, devoted to co-parenting their child.
Lee said that Betsy is his sole focus, and admitted he has turned down work, including a lead role in a nationwide tour of Sunset Boulevard, to be there for her.
Denise and Lee tied the knot in the Seychelles in 2009, after meeting on the 2007 TV show Any Dream Will Do, where she was a judge and he was a contestant.
The pair went on to welcome their daughter in 2010, before parting ways in June 2013 – just six months after Denise was named runner-up on Strictly’s tenth series.