Les Dennis "regrets" the collapse of his first marriage to Lynne Webster.

Les Dennis 'regrets' the way his first marriage 'fell apart'

Les Dennis 'regrets' the way his first marriage 'fell apart'

The 'Strictly Come Dancing' star - who will be part of the BBC Latin and ballroom competition's upcoming series - thinks the relationship "fell apart" because he didn't take the time to grieve the death of his parents.

Appearing on the 'Where There's A Will, There's A Wake' podcast, he said: "I think my first marriage fell apart because I didn't take stock.

"When my mum died I went on stage. When my dad died, I was in Bournemouth and didn't know until after.

"And then I was again convinced to go on stage that night and do the show as a 'tribute' to my dad."

The former couple tied the knot in 1974, but Les confessed the end of his and Lynne's marriage - which came when they got divorced 16 years later - was impacted by his "blinkered" reaction to such devastating losses.

He added: "So, I have regrets about that. My first marriage probably was affected by my blinkered... just getting on [with it mentality].

"'I've got to get on. Dustin's gone now. I've got to get on with my career.' "

Les later married Amanda Holden after they met during a production of 'The Sound of Music' in 1993, but they split seven years later.

Although they did try to rekindled their romance, they broke up for good in 2002, while the comedian went onto wed his third wife Claire in 2009, and they are still happily married to this day.

Les recently revealed his significant other shed tears of happiness when she found out he was going to appear on 'Strictly'.

He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “I was in the mix for 'Strictly', and then I heard from my agent I’d got it, and I called my wife and she cried – but in a good way. She didn’t cry going, ‘Don’t do it!’

“It’s a big challenge. The last few years, I’ve had challenges just come out of nowhere, like I did my first opera two years ago at the RSC, with no training. So this is such a massive opportunity as I approach 70. I thought yeah, why not?”

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