She appeared to reignite her infamous feud with Phillip Schofield last week following their clash on This Morning, with a cryptic Instagram post.
After news of the daytime TV legend’s shock exit from the show, Amanda Holden, 52, shared a bicep curl emoji with her two million followers – often used to show support and strength. Fans quickly speculated that it was directed at her nemesis – with one commenting, “I know what that’s for”, while another quipped, “No Holden back for sure, YES AMANDA!”
The mum-of-two had stepped in for Holly Willoughby in 2014 and 2015 when she was on maternity leave, but in 2018 – when Holly temporarily presented I’m A Celebrity! – Amanda was overlooked and wasn’t given the role. Phillip, 61, was said to have felt that Rochelle Humes was a better fit and “easier” to manage on air – leaving Amanda furious.
Opening up about the fallout a year later, Britain’s Got Talent judge Amanda revealed how she’d offered to meet the dad-of-two for coffee in a bid to smooth over the situation, but claimed “he didn’t reply to my text”.
Now pals tell us that her thinly-veiled “dig” at Phillip last week was her way of not only expressing her relief at him finally “getting his comeuppance”, but a celebration of how she’s revelling in her TV career hitting new highs as Phil’s appears to be ebbing away.
A source says, “Amanda’s been waiting for Phil to get his comeuppance for a long time, and his departure feels like justice for the trauma and upset he put her through. It may also open up the door for new opportunities – something she’s often felt she wasn’t offered because of her fallout with Phil.
“Amanda has always questioned whether Phil’s TV connections, and him bearing a grudge against her, may have held her back in some ways. So now that he’s gone, she’s very much hoping that the stage is set for her to make an even bigger impact. Showing the world – and Phil – what she’s capable of will be the ultimate revenge.”
After launching her career as a TV actress in the late ’90s, Amanda’s career took a nosedive following her affair with Men Behaving Badly actor Neil Morrissey, 60, which ended her eight-year marriage to comedian Les Dennis, 69.
In 2013, Amanda – who shares daughters Lexi, 17, and Hollie, 11, with record producer husband Chris Hughes – admitted the affair “ruined my reputation”, adding how “grateful” she was to Simon Cowell for giving her a second chance with BGT in 2006.
“Obviously he’s made me a lot of money, but he also gave me an amazing profile change,” she said.
While she bagged a few presenting gigs in the years that followed – including The Door with Chris Tarrant, talent show Superstar and Give A Pet A Home– Amanda hadn’t managed to place herself at the top of TV talent. But coinciding with Phillip’s public downfall, she has been sharing news of her TV comeback – announcing that the second series of her BBC show, Amanda & Alan: The Italian Job, would be returning to screens amid reports she’s also set to replace the late Paul O’Grady on ITV’s For The Love Of Dogs.
Last month, insiders told Closer how Amanda has been planning a move to the US amid rumours her daughter, Lexi, was looking at universities there. And while pals say it’s still something she’s considering, she’s keen to “leave on a high” before moving across the pond.
The source adds, “Amanda would still love to move to LA at some point in the future, but right now she wants to concentrate on her career at home and taking on all the new opportunities that are being offered here.
“She feels she’s never had a real chance at making a name for herself as a big-time TV presenter like Holly, and now Phil’s had his just desserts, she’s hoping the offers will continue coming in so she can really make her mark and leave on a high.
“Amanda is hell-bent on proving to Phil – and everyone else who’s questioned her abilities – that she has what it takes to become the UK’s biggest TV presenter, and even steal Holly’s crown if that’s what it takes.”
