ITV Amanda Holden sets record straight on 'wild rumour' about ex Les Dennis
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Amanda Holden has finally put to rest a bizarre rumour that has been circulating for over 20 years, following her split from husband Les Dennis. The Britain's Got Talent judge married Les, who is 18 years her senior, in 1995, but their whirlwind romance ended in 2002.
Their breakup was marred by reports of Amanda's alleged affair with her co-star Neil Morrissey, and amidst the fallout, a rumour emerged that Les had found solace in the arms of none other than legendary singer Diana Ross.
However, Amanda has now set the record straight, revealing that the woman in question was actually her friend Jane Wall, an actress who was living in her house at the time. "I hate to bring it up, but when I was going through a divorce, my friend Jane Wall, who is a mixed-race actress, was living in my house," Amanda explained on the Tea at Four podcast.
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"We were helping her, she was living there basically so she could save up for a mortgage, and it [reports] said, my then-husband was being 'comforted by Diana Ross'. So that was hilarious."
Jane, who was mistaken for Diana, is a familiar face from her role as Detective Inspector Di Worrell in ITV soap The Bill. At the time of the rumour, Jane remained tight-lipped about the confusion, while Les spoke out in 2004, dismissing the claim as "particularly ridiculous", reports the Mirror.
Amanda found her happily ever after with Chris Hughes, tying the knot in 2008, and together they have two daughters, Lexi and Hollie.
She is now at the helm of Netflix's latest offering, Cheat: Unfinished Business – a gripping series aiding eight former couples torn apart by infidelity.
Tasked with revisiting their relationship issues at an opulent retreat, the ex-partners receive assistance from Married At First Sight UK's relationship guru Paul C. Brunson.
Even with her own past indiscretions, Amanda confessed difficulty in staying impartial while engaging with the show's participants. On the One Show, she revealed: "Oh my God it was very hard for me to sit on the fence."
(Image: Mirrorpix)
(Image: Variety via Getty Images)
(Image: Getty Images)
Amanda described her role on the show as akin to an auntie, remarking: "I would be the auntie and pop in and out. Try to be not judging, we all make mistakes, there are people who have made bad choices,".
The experience has also unexpectedly enriched her own marriage, as Amanda highlighted: "I was in awe of Paul's advice because it's so brilliant and succinct. You can listen to it all day."
In a light-hearted comment, she added: "So I was really nice to Chris when he came out to filming."
Addressing the core issue of the show, she clarified: "It (cheating) is a sensitive topic and I think it's a topic everyone can understand. It's about good people who have made bad choices."
Detailing the impact of unresolved feelings, she added: "Some of those people haven't had the answer for 10 years. So, it was amazing to be part of that process and to witness the truth coming out."
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