Auditions for Britain’s Got Talent have already kicked off in Blackpool but rumours are already swirling around this year’s judges, with some insiders wondering if this could be Amanda Holden’s final year on one of TV’s biggest talent show panels.
According to a show source, Amanda, 53 – whose star rose even further last year following a trail of huge TV gigs – is ready to move on and focus on new challenges.
They say, ‘Amanda is very ambitious, and with her TV shows with Alan Carr being such hits, she feels she’s now ready to mirror the success of TV hosts like Holly Willoughby and Claudia Winkleman. She’s
eager to land a spot on This Morning as one of the show’s permanent hosts, although she has made it clear she won’t be replacing Cat Deeley, and has already set the wheels in motion for her new chapter by signing up for a new management agency.’
The rumours follow months of reports that Amanda has been slowly growing apart from co-judge and BGT creator Simon Cowell after nearly two decades of working together. Last year, Amanda
defended Simon, 65, during a toxic torrent of trolling from former X Factor judges Louis Walsh and Sharon Osbourne.
At the time, Amanda labelled Sharon and Louis ‘bitter and pathetic’ and compared them to Cinderella’s two ugly sisters. However, while Amanda has always praised Simon as a ‘prominent male’ in her life alongside husband Chris Hughes, and has credited him for helping to build her career, a slew of recent new projects has seen her branch out independently.
Alongside hosting the Royal Variety Performance in November, her BBC show, Amanda and Alan’s Italian
Job – in which she renovates dilapidated properties alongside close pal Alan Carr – was commissioned for a third series in Spain, which is due to air at the end of this month. Their first series averaged 3.9 million viewers, with BGT only coming slightly ahead with 5.6 million.
The insider adds, ‘Amanda is starting to grow in confidence and, behind the scenes, has let it be known that she could be bigger than BGT.’
And they say Alan has now become yet another huge advocate of Amanda, and is urging her to chase her dreams this year.
A source says, ‘Alan is also thought to support the idea of her leaving BGT and following her heart. Her husband Chris [Hughes] has also played a big part in encouraging Amanda to focus on new projects. With Chris’s contacts as an agent, he knows all the big TV producers.’
Alongside working with Sky for Sex: A Bonkers History in 2023, last year Amanda landed her ‘dream
job’ hosting a dating show, Cheaters: Unfinished Business, for streaming giant Netflix, which is set
to air later this year.
Her new role lands her among the ranks of the Beckhams and Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, with the
channel catapulting UK stars, such as Michelle Keegan, to global superstardom. And now recent last-minute changes to the BGT auditions are believed to have sparked added tension between the
long-term pals.
Amanda is thought to be furious with Simon switching BGT auditions from London to Blackpool (after initially postponing the auditions following the death of Liam Payne) as it could cause extra problems for her. She currently works five days a week in London doing her radio shows for Heart London – meaning
travelling to Blackpool is a gruelling commute.
Amanda has been a judge on BGT since 2007, but amid reports that Simon could be set to switch up the panel after this year’s series, the source says Amanda could be forced to question her future on the show.
They say, 'Simon and Amanda have been close friends for many years, but whether they will fall out over this we will have to see – but this year may be the last time we see Amanda as a judge.’
Amanda has also been throwing her talent and knowledge of the showbiz industry behind her eldest
daughter Lexi, 18. After signing with Kate Moss’ agency Storm in 2022, Lexi – who has a younger sister, Hollie, 12 – walked her first London Fashion Week show last September.
And now the source says that, with her daughters becoming increasingly independent, Amanda is ready to start a new chapter in her career.
They add, ‘When her daughters were young, Amanda was eager to spend time with them once filming
for BGT was over. She turned down other offers because she wanted to be with the children and be a normal mum.
‘Now they are grown up she feels it is the perfect time for her to focus on her career. She is desperate to prove herself as a major TV host by challenging stars like Holly and Claudia in a bid to bag a hosting spot on the top shows.’