Outnumbered stars Claire Skinner and Hugh Dennis find love off-screen after BBC show

The characters of Claire and Hugh were the loving parents on the BBC show and it was the series that helped them reunite after the marriage broke down.

Claire Skinner and Hugh Dennis, who played beloved parents Sue and Pete in BBC sitcom Outnumbered, are now in a real-life relationship.

The show revolved around the Brockman family, including their children Jake, Ben and Karen, and the trials and tribulations of raising children with diverse personalities and challenges.

A brand new episode of Outnumbered is set to air at 9.40pm on Boxing Day on BBC One. The episode will feature Sue (Claire Skinner) and Pete (Hugh Dennis) hosting their family home for Christmas.

Their eldest son Jake (Tyger Drew-Honey) is now a father to a vivacious three-year-old, while his siblings struggle with their own adult issues. However, the special will see Pete reveal his prostate cancer diagnosis to his family.

During the series, Claire Skinner and Hugh Dennis were married to other people. But by the time of the 2016 Christmas special, both actors had divorced from their respective partners.

The Mirror reports that after media speculation, Hugh later confirmed his relationship with Claire, and they have been happily cohabiting ever since. But what else do we know about their personal lives?

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How Claire Skinner and Hugh Dennis Met

Claire Skinner was previously married to director Charles Palmer, with whom she has two sons. Their marriage ended in 2016.

Although Outnumbered is perhaps Claire Skinner’s most recognized role, audiences may also remember her from Bridget Jones’ Diary, Life Begins, and Sense and Sensibility.

In recent times, Claire Skinner has appeared in notable shows like The Pale Horse, Inside No. 9, Scream Street, Ted Lasso and McDonald and Dodds.

Meanwhile, his partner Hugh Dennis, well known in British comedy circles, became famous for his roles in Mock The Week, QI, and as a guest host on Have I Got News for You. His acting portfolio includes Outnumbered, My Hero and Not Going Out, with a surprising appearance in the James Bond film No Time To Die.

Hugh Dennis had previously been married to Catherine Abbot-Anderson since 1996, a union which produced two children but ended in divorce in 2015.

It was the Outnumbered Christmas special in 2016 that brought Claire and Hugh together, as they began a romance after filming finished.

Hugh Dennis recalled it in 2018: “It happened about a year and a half ago, I guess. We did an outnumbered Christmas special about three years ago, and then we seen again about a year and a half ago.”

Claire Skinner also discussed their relationship in an interview with The Times in 2019, mentioning that their partnership remained under the radar for a considerable period of time.

She shared: “No one really noticed when Hugh Dennis and I first became involved.

“The news didn’t break until a year later, which was great. People were telling us someone would notice soon, but I kept telling them, ‘We’re both over 50 years. Why would anyone be interested in that?’.

“We have families that we wanted to protect, but everyone is pretty cool and happy about it.”

Daniel Roche, famous for his role as boisterous Ben in the hit BBC series, has claimed things have been romantic for much longer than the couple let on.

He said: “They’ve been doing this for years, they’ve been going out for years. They’re together, they’re having a good time. It’s all good.”

However, Daniel later clarified: “I would like to clear up some confusion. It appears I was misquoted in the press.

“I never wanted to suggest that Hugh and Claire were a couple for years and I wouldn’t have because that’s just not ‘real’.”

In their home life together

Claire Skinner and Hugh Dennis reportedly share a life in a swanky £1.2 million penthouse in London. Claire once shared with the Times her penchant for jogging, taking meandering walks and her love of yoga in her free time.

Additionally, Claire’s eldest son William, known as Bill Skinner as an actor, has appeared on screens in many television programs such as Ted Lasso, McDonald and Dodds, Endeavor and The Cleaner.