FAMILY and friends of Southend heart-throb Lee Mead have spoken of their delight after the announcement he is engaged to his Basildon-born girlfriend Denise Van Outen.

Former Eastwood School pupil Lee, 27, proposed to Denise, 34, at their home in Kent, and when the TV presenter said yes, he whisked her away for a romantic break in St Lucia.

Lee shot to fame in 2007 when he triumphed in the BBC talent show Any Dream Will Do, winning the chance to don the famous technicolor dreamcoat and take the lead role in the West End musical Joseph.

Speaking after news of the engagement became public, Lee’s mum Jo Mead said: “I can’t really say too much, but we’re really, really happy for them. They are both over the moon about it and it’s fantastic news. We don’t know anything about when they are planning to get married yet, but they are so happy.

“I don’t want to say too much because it is their good news really, but as a family we are so pleased and proud.

“It’s such lovely news. Denise is a lovely girl and Lee is very lucky. They are very lucky to have each other.”

The pair met when Lee, appeared on Any Dream Will Do. Denise was a member of the judging panel and they became a couple shortly after filming ended.

Lee’s celebrity lifestyle is a world away from his childhood in Southend, where he and his younger brother Casey were brought up by his mum Jo, a cleaner, and dad Steve, a postman.

But his fame appears never to have gone to his head, according to pals.

David Stanley, assistant headteacher at Eastwood School and a former teacher of Lee, said: “It couldn’t have happened to a nicer guy. We are all so pleased for them. Everyone here remembers him very fondly.

“Lee was always very hard-working, polite and conscientious, and he seems to have kept these qualities even with him becoming so famous.

“Lee deserves all his success and happiness because he is such a good guy, and I am sure he and Denise will be very happy settling down together.”

Lee’s former singing teacher Margaret Cozens added: “I just want to say a big congratulations to them both.

“Lee was always a lovely young man. He seemed quite surprised when it all came together for him.”

“I wish them both all the happiness and success for the future. This is lovely news.”