Denise looked radiant as she posed with fellow mothers-to-be Natasha Kaplinksy and WAG Carly Zucker to promote the Sports Relief Bumps And Babies Mile.
But she didn't conceal her disappointment at the unexpected axing by BBC chiefs days before filming starts, on new show Over The Rainbow.
She is now set to be replaced by mother of two Charlotte Church, who at 23 is 12 years her junior, in the search for a new Dorothy for Lloyd Webber's production of The Wizard of Oz.
Dropped: Denise Van Outen hid her disappointment today to help launch the Sport Relief Bumps and Babies Mile for Sports Relief in London's Battersea Park
Sporty Spice: Denise looked fit and sporty in a Sport Relief T-shirt designed by David Beckham and his family
A clearly blooming Denise said she felt 'fit and healthy' and would have been able to work until the last minute after taking part in a one mile walk in aid of Sports Relief with fellow celebrity mums-to-be newsreader Natasha Kaplinsky and England footballer Joe Cole's wife Carly Zucker.
The television talent show's search begins next month and is due to end in May, meaning Denise would have been eight months pregnant while filming.
However, she said today: 'I am not ill, I am just having a baby. I feel disappointed and let down. Being pregnant is not an issue for me, I feel fit and healthy.
'I am absolutely happy to carry on working. I am here today at the Bumps And Babies Mile today which shows I feel fine.'
When asked if her being pregnant had been discussed with BBC bosses, she confirmed: 'It was mentioned to me that being pregnant was an issue.'
The television talent show's search begins next month and is due to end in May, meaning Denise would have been eight months pregnant while filming.
However, she said today: 'I am not ill, I am just having a baby. I feel disappointed and let down. Being pregnant is not an issue for me, I feel fit and healthy.
'I am absolutely happy to carry on working. I am here today at the Bumps And Babies Mile today which shows I feel fine.'
When asked if her being pregnant had been discussed with BBC bosses, she confirmed: 'It was mentioned to me that being pregnant was an issue.'
Radiant: Pregnant Denise posed with fellow mums-to-be Natasha Kaplinksy and WAG Carly Zucker to promote Sport Relief's Bumps And Babies Mile
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Power walk: Denise said she felt 'fit and healthy' and would have been able to work until the last minute
A source close to Miss Van Outen, who met her husband, musical star Lee Meade when he was a contestant on BBC show Any Dream Will Do, said yesterday: 'Denise did not take it for granted that she was returning, but really hoped she would get the job.
Denise is being replaced as a judge on Over The Rainbow by mother of two Charlotte Church
Denise, who is married to musical star Lee Meade, today said that being pregnant at work is part of a wider problem for women.
She said: 'It should be up to the woman to decide if they feel well enough to carry on working.
'I feel in really good health and I am sure lots of other pregnant women feel the same as me.
'If I was having a tough pregnancy I could maybe understand the decision, but I feel perfectly fine.'
The decision will plunge the corporation into a fresh sexism row.
Miss Van Outen would have been required to film auditions and appear on Saturday night live shows, often pre-recording segments in the week.
Actor and singer John Barrowman, who has similarly appeared on all of Lord Lloyd Webber's shows, has also been axed as part of the revamp.
The BBC has already come under fire for replacing 66-year-old Arlene Phillips on Strictly Come Dancing with Alesha Dixon, 31.
And following accusations of sexism and ageism, director general Mark Thompson has begun a drive to recruit women newsreaders over 50 after axing high-profile names such as Anna Ford, 66, and Moira Stuart, 60.
A BBC spokesman said: 'Over The Rainbow is a brand new show for BBC One with a completely new line-up of judges.
'None of the other five previous judges will be taking part.
'We expect to be revealing the new judging line up in the next few days.'
However, a source at the BBC said Miss Van Outen may be included in the show in some way.
Miss Van Outen was today pictured with a team of pregnant celebrities she recruited to encourage pregnant women to get sponsored to take part in the Sainsbury’s Sport Relief Mile.
Five News presenter Natasha Kaplinksy (who is expecting her second child), BBC Radio 6 DJ Nemone and her seven-month-old daughter Ella, Carly Zucker (wife of Chelsea’s Joe Cole), actor Kim Medcalf, and Olympic medal winning Badminton player Gail Emms, all of whom are expecting their babies in the next couple of months joined Denise at London's Battersea Park.
The Sport Relief Weekend is taking place from Friday 19th March to Sunday 21st March 2010.
For more information about Sport Relief and the Bumps And Babies Mile, go to: www.sportrelief.com
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