She is the only judge who has stood firmly by Simon Cowell’s side for seventeen years during his seven talent shows.
And to get back in her favour, Amanda Holden has weighed in on the feud between the music mogul and his former X Factor panellists Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh by calling them ‘bitter and pathetic’.
It comes after Sharon, 71, and Louis, 71, appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and poked fun at Simon’s appearance, joking that he would ‘need more Botox’ by the time she finished exposing him to the nation.
The 53-year-old Britain’s Got Talent judge said: ‘I hated seeing certain people on a reality show criticizing Simon – he’s the person who gave them all the opportunities, gave them lots of money and had a lifestyle that they probably wouldn’t have.
Amanda Holden calls Sharon Osbourne and Louis Walsh ‘bitter and pathetic’ as she defends Simon Cowell after encountering him on Celebrity Big Brother
Sharon appeared on Celebrity Big Brother last month and said she was ‘furious’ with Simon for claiming he didn’t renew her X Factor contract (pictured in 2017)
It comes after Sharon, 71, and Louis, 71, appeared on Celebrity Big Brother and poked fun at Simon’s appearance, joking that he ‘needed more Botox’
‘It’s bitter and sad. It was like Cinderella with her two sisters in the background: just stabby, stabby, stabby.’
Appearing on Celebrity Big Brother last month, Sharon said she was ‘furious’ with Simon for claiming he didn’t renew her contract when she expected him to, meaning she was once again in big TV performance went wrong.
Meanwhile, Louis revealed he was no longer speaking to his former partner in crime, despite once sharing Britain’s most talked about bromance.
Amanda said: ‘I thought, “Oh my God, it’s like watching a pantomime.” I just think they look so dirty and horrible.
“There was a friendship there and an opportunity. So no matter how the business ends up, you have to respect the opportunity you’ve been given and the paycheck you’ve been given. Just be gracious. There was none of that and I can’t bear it.’
The Heart Radio presenter has been friends with Simon since she was a judge on the first series of Britain’s Got Talent and they have remained close – spending time together away from the show.
Responding to his former friend’s comments, Simon, who is dad to ten-year-old Eric and his long-term partner Lauren Silverman, said: ‘I don’t have a phone and I never go on social media so I have no idea what’s going on on most of the time.
‘It’s part of the key to happiness. When I turned off my phone eight years ago, that was the beginning.”
‘It’s bitter and sad. It was like Cinderella with her two sisters in the background,” said Amanda as she prepared for the new series of BGT with Simon, Alesha Dixn and Bruno Tonioli
The Heart Radio presenter has been friends with Simon since she was a judge on the first series of BGT and they have remained close – spending time together away from the show
The latest series of Britain’s Got Talent returns next Saturday with Simon and Amanda joined by Alesha Dixon and Bruno Tonioli.
Simon said of the panel: ‘If something works, why change it?’
‘I’m really lucky because they’re all friends of mine. It’s not awkward and we know each other very well. We have a similar sense of humor, we like the same things and we hang out together. I couldn’t imagine the show without everyone there.”
Simon has a history of confusing the judges on his shows, leaving Sharon ‘furious’ and claiming it was ‘ageism’ that got her fired from X Factor in 2019.
But Amanda, who has remained with BGT since its inception, said: “Simon and I have known each other for over 20 years but we have become particularly close over the last five years. Our children love each other.
‘We see each other at dinner, it’s a bond that has really been strengthened. So yes, it will be very difficult for him to get rid of me now, and even worse now that my Hollie and his Eric are very good friends. It looks like a double act, but charmingly naughty.’