Denise Welch left viewers gobsmacked on Loose Women as she appeared virtually unrecognisable during a recent episode.
The panel were discussing regional accents when Denise, originally from the North East, addressed the frequent comments about her "posh" sounding voice rather than a Geordie accent. She maintained that despite her roots, she never possessed a strong regional twang.
In an effort to back up her claim, Denise urged the production team to play an old clip of her at the age of 23. In the footage, she spoke in a manner very similar to her current speech, albeit looking markedly different with long blonde curls styled in a sophisticated up-do.
Denise explained: "Everybody seems to think that because I'm from the North East, I used to talk like Gazza. So whenever I do anything, if I'm on GMB or an interview show, they always say on Twitter or whatever 'Oh my God, it's pathetic, she's completely lost her Geordie accent.'"
She added: "I've found a clip, which I think we've got, of me when I was 23 where I sound more like bloomin' Fiona Bruce than I do like Gazza," reports the Mirror.
In the unearthed footage, Denise is heard speaking in a refined tone: "Local radio is one of the most enduring media institutions this country has. All over the nation, an endless flow of news, events, weather, and music streams out and much more."
"Here in the North East, we're particularly well off with commercial radio, BBC and community radio all providing their own particular blend of information and entertainment. From first light to through the night, the music keeps on coming." Her co-star Judi Love wailed: "Who is she?!" as Denise said: "The proof is in the peas pudding."
Denise admitted after every TV show appearance she gets comments criticising her accent something that happened on Monday after starring on Good Morning Britain. She'd chatted to hosts Ranvir Singh and Ed Balls about a phone scam she fell victim to when the tweets flooded in.
One viewer questioned: "Why does Denise Welch put on this posh accent?" as another echoed: "Denise Welch has lost her Geordie accent I see..."
Now fans can't get enough of how much Denise has changed with one viewer even guessing the throwback clip was made with artificial intelligence. One tweeter commented: "I bet that's AI of Denise, she does try to speak posh at times, she's such a liar!" Someone else said: "Denise with hair, who even is she?"
