Dame Judi Dench's partner gives insight the couple's relationship

Dame Judi Dench’s wildlife conservationist partner David Mills gives Countryfile viewers an insight into their 10-year relationship: ‘She fell in love with my squirrels, not me!’

Dame Judi Dench’s partner of ten years David Mills have given a rare insight into the couple’s decade long relationship.

The wildlife conservationist, 77, spoke about his Oscar winning other half, 88, during her Countryfile special on Sunday.

David recalled meeting Judi after she paid a visit to his wildlife centre in Surrey and joked ‘she fell in love with my squirrels not me’.

Saying: ‘I saw her coming in with her family, so rushed I out and made myself known,’

‘She asked “Is there anything I can do to help?’ and I said I said yes, I was building a red squirrel enclosure and asked “Will you please come and open it?”’.

Candid: Dame Judi Dench’s partner of ten years David Mills (pictured) have given a rare insight into the couple’s decade long relationship

Couple: The wildlife conservationist, 77, spoke about his Oscar winning other half, 88, during her Countryfile special on Sunday (pictured together in 2022) 

The founder of British Wildlife Centre added:  ‘She said yes and the rest is history’.

Asked who she fell in love with first, David joked: ‘My squirrels!’. 

Dame Judi was previously married to the actor Michael Williams, her co-star in the sitcom A Fine Romance, for 30 years. 

He died of lung cancer in 2001, and the actress has previously said she did not think ‘for a second’ she would find someone again.

But after meeting David , she gushed to Good Housekeeping in 2015: ‘It’s wonderful to be in love. That state when you’re glad to see somebody and they make you laugh and you just like being with them.’

Dame Judi is the guest editor for Sunday nights Countryfile on the BBC, where she was joined by Charlotte Smith and Hamza Yassin from the Highlands of Scotland.

During the show she Judi called Scotland her ‘spiritual home’ after filming in the Scottish countryside for her Countryfile special.

She explained: ‘I would say, actually, that my spiritual home is Scotland, simply because I just feel comfortable here.’

Funny story: David (L) recalled meeting Judi after she paid a visit to his wildlife centre in Surrey and joked ‘she fell in love with my squirrels not me’ (pictured with host Adam Henson) 

Lovebirds: David and Judi pictured together at Royal Ascot in June 

RIP: Dame Judi was previously married to the actor Michael Williams, her co-star in the sitcom A Fine Romance, for 30 years (pictured together in 1999)

Judi has had a lifelong love of the country and has filmed some of her biggest movies in Scotland.

1997 smash hit Mrs Brown, for which the actress won a BAFTA for her performance as Queen Victoria, was filmed at Duns Castle in the Borders region and on the Ardverikie Estate in Badenoch.

Meanwhile Glencoe, located in the Scottish Highlands, served as the backdrop for some of the most famous scenes in her last outing in the James Bond movie franchise, in 2012’s Skyfall. 

Back in January Dame Judi delighted guests at an Aberdeenshire hotel when she joined forces with Texas singer Sharleen Spiteri for an impromptu New Year’s Eve performance.

Nature lover: Dame Judi is the guest editor for Sunday nights Countryfile on the BBC , where she was joined by Charlotte Smith and Hamza Yassin (pictured) from the Highlands of Scotland 

The veteran actress, 88, and the Scottish singer, 55, duetted a rendition of Waterloo by ABBA at The Fife Arms in Braemar.

The Hollywood star uses her episode of Countryfile to discuss her love of nature and her particular passion for trees.

Judi has told how many of the trees she has planted were for her late celebrity friends, saying: ‘I have a lot of famous people in my garden.’

The James Bond actress’ passion for trees started at a young age, as she recalled how she would feel when they were cut down.

She said: ‘As a child I used to get irrationally upset to see long lorries with huge trees on. I can’t explain that. I still don’t like seeing trees being felled.’ 

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