Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda Holden lifts the lid on the new series, her fellow judges and those Celebrity Traitors rumours
Saturday nights are about to get bigger and better thanks to the return of Britain’s Got Talent – and judge Amanda Holden couldn’t be more excited. The star says the “danger” factor has been turned up a notch for the new series – now in its nineteenth year – joking that the insurance bill is at an all-time high.
She says: “We’ve had some amazing danger acts again this year. It’s just unbelievable and definitely going to be one of those big discussion moments the next day. I always find it really surprising when Simon [Cowell] just suddenly leaves the table and goes up on stage; it’s nuts. I’m like, ‘This man is throwing pigeons at you!’ or whatever it is they’re doing. But he has stiff competition – KSI is like a rat out of a trap getting up there. I think the insurance will have gone up on the show, that’s for sure.”
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Few talent competitions have stood the test of time, but Amanda, who celebrated her 55th birthday earlier this week, has served as a judge on the series since its inception, appearing alongside Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan when the show launched in 2007. The judging line up has chopped and changed over the years – today, it includes Alesha Dixon and KSI – but Amanda and Simon have played an integral part in the show’s success.
Unsurprisingly, the pair have grown close over the years, with Amanda bearing witness to Simon becoming a dad to his son Eric, 12, in 2014, with whom he shares with wife Lauren Silverman. The music mogul was previously renowned for his savage criticism on BGT and The X Factor, but fatherhood appears to have softened him.
Amanda explains: “Simon is more up for a laugh than he’s ever been. He’s very forgiving and will give people a second chance. He’s a different man. Since having Eric, he can take the p*** out of himself. I think he can just afford to relax a little bit.
“He’s been hugely successful for so much time. Dare I say he’s ever going to take his foot off the pedal, but I think he’s just a little bit more chilled because he’s still ahead of his game and willing to be part of the next trend. I think that’s why he came up with the idea of having KSI.”
Rapper KSI, 32, officially joined the judging panel this year following guest appearances in 2025. He replaced Bruno Tonioli, who made the decision to step down because of his busy work schedule. Despite the 23-year age gap, Amanda says she and KSI are “the closest of the judges”, adding that she’s learning a thing or two from the YouTuber.
She laughs: “I’m like his Nan or something. We just really get on; we’re probably the closest of the judges. He teaches me a lot. I look at his social media and I haven’t got a clue what he’s doing, but I’m willing to learn. I’m always up for reinvention. I think that’s the most important thing in the industry at the moment – I’ve always followed the latest trends and have a sense of humour.”
Indeed, Amanda has become a household name in her own right since finding fame over 30 years ago. After graduating from drama school, she starred in a string of British shows including Wild at Heart, Smack the Pony, EastEnders, Hearts and Bones and Cutting It.
Her warmth and infectious cackle have attracted a legion of fans, as has her defiance in the face of her critics – especially when it comes to her wardrobe. Last year, the star – who shares two daughters with husband Chris Hughes – labelled the backlash “bizarre” after she was hit with more than 1,000 Ofcom complaints over her outfits. Amanda says her risqué fashion choices are here to stay for the new series, revealing, “There will be side boob, leg, and anything else that I can get out!”
And there’s no doubt Amanda will continue to share a glimpse of what the judges get up to behind the scenes, too. She previously shared a clip of her and Bruno enjoying a glass of bubbles during filming. But the champagne might be swapped for a protein shake, if KSI has anything to do with it.
She says: “I will miss Bruno on the bubble front. I’m going to have to force Alesha to drink because she’s always on a health kick. KSI doesn’t drink. He bought me a crate of his Prime protein. I was like, ‘Thanks babe, that’s going to come in handy when I weight lift!’”
Alongside Britain’s Got Talent, Amanda is radio host of Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston and also stars alongside Alan Carr in a travelogue for BBC. After her pal’s success on Celebrity Traitors last year, Amanda has been inundated with rumours that she could be next to follow in the funnyman’s footsteps by taking a seat at the round table. Sadly, Amanda has confirmed that won’t be the case.
She reveals: “I can’t do it because it means I’d miss three Saturday nights on Britain’s Got Talent. I was very flattered, but I am not going to be around the table, unless they change the schedule. I also don’t fancy staying at a hotel in Inverness airport!”
Amanda’s name has also been thrown into the mix as a potential replacement for Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman following their departure from Strictly Come Dancing in December. Whilst she’s a big fan of the dance competition, appearing on one primetime slot is enough. She’d love to see comedian Katherine Ryan, Daisy May Cooper, The One Show host Alex Jones or BBC radio host Zoe Ball land the coveted hosting gig.
She says: “I’m already part of a big show, and I just think I’ll happily carry on watching Strictly from the comfort of my lounge. I just hope that they still have two females doing it – someone super funny and someone you wouldn’t expect.
“There are so many women in our industry that, without getting too political, put all the work in and deserve a b****y break. So often when I see lots of names attached to it, I’m like, ‘Boring, boring’. They’re all brilliant people, but you just go, ‘Come on, think outside the box here’. This is a really wonderful moment to put two strong women in a role on Saturday night.
“Katherine Ryan is a good comedian and Daisy May Cooper. I like the idea of Alex Jones as well – she’s got a dry sense of humour and we don’t see her enough. And bring on the glamour because you’ve got to think about the outfits as well. I love Zoe Ball in that anchor role too. I think somebody should take a chance on a good comedian. Go and search Edinburgh Festival – make it a prize!”
Britain’s Got Talent Season 19 airs on ITV1 and ITVX at 7pm on Saturday, February 21
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