Amanda Holden’s image in the past was associated with her past affair with Neil Morrissey and split from Les Dennis, but since Simon Cowell asked her to join the judging panel on the talent show in 2007, she reveals how it has changed people’s perceptions of her.
“Starting out on Britain’s Got Talent was liberating for me.
“I mean, without dragging up my past, I think, at the time I was with Chris, we’d been together for something like five years but people still kept going on about Les and Neil, and all the other stuff” she told The Mirror.
CHECK OUT: Britain's Got Talent winners so far
RADIO Britain's Got Talent winners so far slider
1 of 13Paul Potts
Paul Potts won the very first show in 2007 with his hugely impressive singing abilities.
2 of 13George Sampson
Break dancer George Sampson won the show in 2008 at the age of just 14-years-old.
3 of 13Diversity
Dance group Diversity won the show in 2009, with Ashley Banjo going on to become a TV presenter.
4 of 13Spellbound
The 2010 series also saw a dance group win in the form of Spellbound, pictured here performing with singer Katherine Jenkins that year.
5 of 13Jai McDowall
Singer Jai McDowall won the show in 2011.
6 of 13Ashleigh and Pudsey
Dog performing act Ashleigh and Pudsey were winners of the 2012 series. However, Pudsey sadly passed away in July 2017.
7 of 13Attraction
Another dance group won over the public in 2013, as Attraction used shadows and puppets to create beautiful spectacles - pictured here with Terry Crews.
8 of 13Collabro
Singing group Collabro wowed viewers in 2014 with their performances of musical theatre songs.
9 of 13Jules and Matisse
Britain's Got Talent saw its second dog act winner in 2015 with Jules and Matisse.
10 of 13Richard Jones
Magician Richard Jones won the hearts of the nation in 2016.
11 of 13Tokio Myers
Pianist and music producer Tokio Myers won the show in 2017, pictured here with BGT judge Amanda Holden.
12 of 13Lost Voice Guy
Lost Voice Guy, real name Lee Ridley, won in 2018.
13 of 13Colin Thackery
Colin Thackery won Britain's Got Talent in 2019.
“So what was really nice was that anyone that might’ve had a preconceived idea of me could see who I really was and then really make their mind up.
“So, if they didn’t like me after, that’s totally fine as well. But I think I was able to make a wider audience understand that I probably wasn’t as bad as I’d been portrayed, or as naughty as I’d been portrayed” she said.
The 48-year-old actress is now happily married to music executive, Chris Hughes, where they tied the knot in 2008, and now have two children.
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The revamped series of Britain's Got Talent: The Champions which starts on Saturday from 8pm on ITV will feature past contestants competing to be the ultimate champion.
Joining Amanda, Simon Cowell, Alesha Dixon, and David Walliams will be judging the British and international stars.
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“This show is the cream of talent from around the world. So there's nothing stupid, there's nothing to criticise, there's nothing that needs particularly any direction” Amanda revealed toThe Sun.
In 2013, Amanda opened up about her past affair with Neil Morrisey. She told Closer: "I found the fall from grace incredibly hard to deal with,’ she said. ‘I can’t bear not to be liked. Then I had an affair and overnight turned into this awful person."