Amanda Holden

Amanda Louise Holden is an English television presenter, actress, and radio broadcaster best known for serving as a judge on the ITV talent competition show Britain's Got Talent since its inception in 2007. Born on February 16, 1971, in Portsmouth, England, she has established a long-standing career across British television drama, stage musicals, and national radio broadcasting.

Early Career and Stage Acting

Holden studied drama at the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London, graduating in 1992, and quickly began securing television roles. She gained national visibility through starring roles in popular British television series, including playing Mel in the comedy series The Grimleys, Mel in Kiss Me Kate, Mia Bevan in the drama series Cutting It, and Sarah Trevanion in ITV's Wild at Heart. Beyond her screen credits, Holden achieved critical success on the West End stage. She notably starred as Princess Fiona in Shrek the Musical and played the title character in the 2004 musical Thoroughly Modern Millie, for which she earned a Laurence Olivier Award nomination.

Hosting and Media Career

In 2007, Holden joined the judging panel of Britain's Got Talent alongside Simon Cowell and Piers Morgan, becoming one of the show's longest-serving figures. Her career in television presenting subsequently expanded to cover a wide range of entertainment programs, including stints guest-hosting ITV's flagship daytime show This Morning, presenting The Sun Military Awards, and co-hosting talent competitions like Superstar. On BBC television, she collaborated with comedian Alan Carr on popular renovation travelogues set in Italy and Spain. Since 2019, Holden has also co-hosted the national Heart Breakfast radio show weekday mornings alongside broadcaster Jamie Theakston.

Music and Personal Life

Holden expanded her career into recording in 2020 by releasing her debut studio album, Songs from My Heart, through Virgin EMI Records. The record achieved commercial success, reaching number four on the UK Albums Chart. Off screen, Holden resides in Surrey, England. She was married to comedian and presenter Les Dennis from 1995 until their divorce in 2003. In December 2008, she married music producer Chris Hughes, with whom she shares two daughters.