It’s been over 20 years since Amanda Holden's shock affair with Men Behaving Badly star Neil Morrissey was exposed – leading to the breakdown of her eight-year marriage to much-loved TV host, Les Dennis, and the downfall of her career at the time.
And following the announcement that her ex-husband, 69, is set to join the upcoming series of Strictly, insiders say Amanda is panicking about her painful past being dragged up again.
A source says, “Amanda was understandably shaken when she heard the news, immediately going into a tailspin about what Les could say in all the press interviews and the public being reminded of her infidelity and the heartache and pain that the scandal caused.
“She’s worked so hard over the years to redeem herself and repair her reputation and image – not to mention her career, which was left in tatters – so the thought of that all being bulldozed again by Les’s appearance on Strictly, is understandably very worrying and it’s causing her to panic.”
In the early noughties, Amanda’s acting career took an epic nosedive following the cheating scandal and her subsequent divorce from the Family Fortunes presenter, which she later admitted “ruined my reputation”.
The 52-year-old BGT host – who is now happily loved-up with husband Chris Hughes, with whom she shares daughters, Lexi, 17 and Hollie, 11 – has since thanked Simon Cowell, 63, for giving her a “secohttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8jL3zxuepUnd chance” when he offered her a judging spot on the hit talent show in 2006 – a move that relaunched her career and helped repair her damaged reputation.
Les and Amanda married in 1995, when she was 22 and he was 40, after falling in love when they both starred in the stage production of The Sound Of Music. Following a brief split in 2000 after Amanda and Neil’s affair was exposed, they reunited, but called it quits two years later.
And in June this year, Les spoke out about his marriage with Amanda, revealing that despite being “damaged” for a long time, he has no hard feelings towards his ex.
Opening up about Amanda in a rare interview, he said, “We’re not in touch but I’m happy that she’s happy,” he said, adding, “I can watch Britain’s Got Talent without getting angry. To be honest it’s like watching a different person. Someone I’ve never met.”
And pals say while Amanda hopes enough time has passed that Les won’t use his appearance to seek revenge, she’s panicking that his popularity on the show, could make the public turn on her again.
The source says, “While Amanda doesn’t think Les would vindictively set out to hurt her, she’s worried about him becoming the nation’s idol again, and in turn that leading her to be villainised.
“They were two huge stars who married in the spotlight and had a very public marriage breakdown – with legions of fans turning on her following the affair, while flocking to support the much-loved star.
“While she’s moved on, the affair has continued to haunt her and she believes Les’s appearance is likely going to remind everyone of what happened and inevitably put her back in the firing line.”
Amanda has spoken out about just how difficult going through her and Les’s split in 2002 was for her, saying, “It was a very dark time. It got to the point where I felt I could hardly breathe. I brought it on myself, I appreciate that, but nothing will ever be as bad again.”
But since making her big comeback with BGT, Amanda has become one of the most nation’s most successful TV stars – guest hosting on This Morning, co-hosting her Heart radio show with Jamie Theakston, earlier this year announcing the second series of her BBC show, Amanda & Alan: The Italian Job, and replacing the late Paul O’Grady on ITV’s, For The Love Of Dogs.
And pals say while Amanda has naturally been rattled by Les’s upcoming appearance on the hugely popular talent show, her anxiety is being curbed by her husband.
The source adds, “Chris has been supporting Amanda and offering her comfort – insisting that Les wouldn’t intentionally seek to inflict more pain and heartache on either of them, and urging her to use this as an opportunity for them both to prove how time has healed and bury it all in the past.
“He’s assured her that she’s not going to lose everything she’s worked so hard for from a mistake she made over two decades ago and has urged Amanda to stay calm, focus on her work and even show support to Les if it feels right.
“Amanda feels incredibly lucky to have Chris by her side and hopes that Les can also enjoy the experience and thrive on the show leading to more success and happiness, which is everything she wishes for him.”