Amanda Holden has told the Mirror how fellow Britain’s Got Talent judge Alesha Dixon has always been there for her through all the hard times including when she nearly died
Britain’s Got Talent star Amanda Holden has opened up about her special bond with fellow judge Alesha Dixon – and how she has helped her through her darkest moments. The 55-year-old says the two of them have a special pact which has “evolved’ over the years as their friendship has solidified.
Amanda said: “I lost a baby during the show, I was hospitalised, there’s been those moments where you need a female next to you. Because with the best will in the world, you’ve got the likes of Simon, a wonderful man and sympathetic, but you just want that girl next to you who knows and understands why you might need a chocolate bar, an aspirin or a trip to the toilet.You just need that with anybody you work with, you always have that friend in the office or wherever you work that knows without you having to say anything.”
In 2012, Amanda’s heart stopped for 40 seconds during the traumatic birth of her daughter, Hollie. She suffered a hemorrhage, lost a significant amount of blood, and was “moments from death.” The year before Amanda tragically lost her son, Theo, who was stillborn at seven months.
Speaking to the Mirror, Amanda said that her and Alesha made a pact when Alesha joined the show and vowed to stick together. She said: “As much as the world is evolving, people still try to pit women up against each other, which is super old-fashioned and sad, considering most of the time it comes from other women. I’ve got two girls, and I am absolutely not going to have that as an example to them. I think that the more we stick together and we say, we are not going down that route, the better for all women.”
Amanda said that we are “not competition for each other”. She added: “At the beginning we had to be strong and united and confront the prospect we would be pitted against each other head on and then there was nowhere for anybody in the background to make that narrative happen.”
Asked how important her bond was with Alesha, Amanda said the fact they were both mums only made them tighter. Amanda has Lexi, 20, and Hollie, 14, with husband Chris Hughes. Alesha has kids, Azura, 11, and Anaya, five.
Amanda said: I think it’s really grown over the years. We’re always on the same page, we have loads in common. We even went on a little mini break. Alesha came out to join me with her kids for a few days this year which was a first for both of us and so lovely to have her properly with me on holiday. I think we’ve just got closer and closer as the years have gone on, especially through motherhood. She is the sort of person I could ring if I had a problem going on or an emergency and I know she’d be there for me.”
Alesha, meanwhile, says that Amanda has been a true friend. She said: “Amanda, from day one, before we even filmed our first day of auditions, called me. We went out for coffee and we made a pact to always be united. We’ve always had that understanding from day one. It’s never been compromised. If anything, it’s got stronger….over the years, we have only grown closer, and I truly love her as a friend. I feel very blessed to have the friendship we share.”
Her only downside, Alesha says, is her ability to lead her astray on a night out. She says: “Whenever I socialise with Amanda, I have to be careful, but it depends where we’re going. If I took her out with me and my mates, she wouldn’t be going home till six in the morning. However, if I’m out with her… she can party hard! Everybody that knows Amanda knows she’s the hostess with the mostest. She’s brilliant at that. In our own group of friends we’re both the life and soul of the party, but she’s great fun. She’s got the wickedest sense of humour.”
BGT’s Live Semi-Finals begin Saturday at 7pm, on ITV1
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