PIN back your lug holes because Denise Welch has something to say.

The Loose Woman and Coronation Street favourite is getting ready to speak her mind in a new column in the Examiner starting Thursday and promises to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth about the world around her.

“I’m so excited,” declares the former Celebrity Big Brother winner.

“I want the column to have a sense of fun, a sense of humour and to be topical. We all need cheering up these days and I want to put my own slant on things.”

The 54-year-old is more used to making the headlines than writing them, but is looking forward to setting the record straight and highlighting the topics that are close to her heart.

“I know people either really like me or don’t like me at all, but that’s OK,” she insists.

“I can only be me and I think with shows like Loose Women people know a lot about who Denise Welch is.”

Coronation Street was a big part of Denise’s life and she began playing femme fatal Natalie Horrocks, the man-eating mistress of Kevin Webster. And, by the time she left in 2000, she was running the legendary Rovers Return.

But some personal obstacles have been thrown up in Denise’s own life. She has battled a drink and drug addiction and has also had to cope with depression in the past.

She has been an ambassador for leading mental health charity Mind and says: “It’s a subject that has been very prevalent in my life. They do amazing work and it needs to be highlighted. They are there if you are having a bad time or if anyone has any concerns about mental health issues.”

Drink has caused Waterloo Road star Denise problems in the past and she has been snapped on drunken nights out by photographers. But she is now an alcohol-free zone and says it has made all the difference to her life and helped in her relationships.

The mother-of-two is also keen to show the positive side of youth and highlight the good ’uns who are out there.

“Young people are not just hoodies on street corners, but that seems to be a kind of general view these days. There are so many young people out there doing amazing things and I want to let everyone know about them.”

The actress is now busy planning her July wedding in Portugal to 40-year-old fiancé Lincoln Townley while also appearing with Keith Allen in black comedy Smack Family Robinson by One Man, Two Guvnors writer Richard Bean.

Richard Wilson is directing the production, which runs at the Rose Theatre in Kingston, south London, until April 20.

“I thought it was someone having a joke with me when I was first offered the role back in January,” admits Denise. “I was on holiday in the Caribbean with Lincoln and at 6am I got this phone call from Richard Wilson.”

She laughs: “I just thought ‘Why is Victor Meldrew calling me at 6am?”

Denise admits it has been a real juggling act with rehearsals and wedding planning, but says all her family and friends have been very supportive and urged her to take the role, including her ex-husband actor Tim Healy and 12-year-old son, Louis.

“Lincoln recently stood in for me at the school parents evening for Louis,” said Denise. “He started stepdad duties early.

“Louis is also going to spend a week in Spain with Tim while he’s been filming the new series of ITV comedy Benidorm and everyone has been brilliant.

“Some friends got in touch and were asking when I would be flying out to Portugal because they wanted to sort out tickets for a water park, but it’s July and I’m not that organised. I can only think about a week in advance at the moment.”

The wedding is still very much on despite some media speculation that it was looking doubtful.

“Lincoln and I have our ups and downs just like any other couple,” points out Denise. “We just seem to do everything in public. I keep saying we’re like TV’s George and Mildred.”

She says it’s sometimes hard to keep a low profile even when she wants to.

“I went to see Alexander O’Neill in concert at the Jazz Cafe with my fellow Loose Women presenter Carol McGiffin and she tweeted about it,” said Denise. “He had appeared on Loose Women and invited us to come along.

“We had a great night, but when we came out the photographers were waiting for us, hoping for ... something.

“I’ve brought out two autobiographies and there isn’t much more I can say. It gets a bit ridiculous sometimes.

“Lincoln and his family are quite new to all the attention and I think they find it quite strange, but I just take it in my stride.”

Denise currently lives in Cheshire, but says her heart will always be in the north east.

She was born in Whitley Bay and moved with her family to Newcastle upon Tyne when she was 12.

Her father, Vin, still lives there and Denise has never forgotten her roots.

She says happily: “I still have a home with Tim there and go back as much as my can.

“I’m entrenched. I will always consider it my home no matter where I go or what I do.”