Amanda Holden’s ‘brutal’ confession about why she ended her relationship with ex-husband Les Dennis has resurfaced.
Rewind 30 years, in 1993 Amanda – who was 22 at the time – met and fell in love with the Family Fortunes host, then 40, when they were both starring in a production of The Sound Of Music.
They married two years later in 1995 but things came to a crashing close when it was revealed that Amanda had an affair with her Shakespeare co-star Neil Morrissey in 2000 – something she later insisted was ‘just about sex’.
In resurfaced quotes from Amanda, 52, at the time of the split, she said she was ‘very broody’ and could see herself having multiple children in the next couple of years.
The presenter explained: ‘I terribly want children but I didn’t want to have them with Les.
Honest: Amanda Holden’s ‘brutal’ confession about why she ended her relationship with ex-husband Les Dennis has resurfaced
Couple: Rewind 30 years, in 1993 Amanda – who was 22 at the time – met and fell in love with the Family Fortunes host, then 40, when they were both starring in a production of The Sound Of Music
‘That’s a horribly brutal thing to say, but when you do, you know you have to move on.’
She went on to admit it was her who finally suggested getting a divorce to Les and later spoke out about her affair in the spotlight. She said: ‘I found the fall from grace incredibly hard to deal with. I can’t bear not to be liked.
‘Then I had an affair and overnight turned into this awful person. There are no hard feelings with Les. I wish him the best, but we’ve both moved on. I don’t believe women have affairs for no reason. Women don’t seek sex – we seek love and affirmation.’
It comes after Les’ rare confession about his ex wife Amanda has been revealed – as he became the first star to be booted of Strictly Come Dancing on Sunday night.
The TV personality, 69, – who left the show with his pro partner Nancy Xu – recently made a surprising confession about his former love after their difficult past.
Speaking to The Sunday Times recently Les said he was over what happened and was happy for her in her new life.
He said: ‘Amanda was in the papers recently, saying some nice things about me. That was very kind of her. Maybe with time she has been able to look back and see things differently.
‘We’re not in touch but I am happy that she’s happy. I can watch Britain’s Got Talent without getting angry. To be honest, it’s like watching a different person, someone I’ve never met. All the hurt that has happened has been healed.’
The presenter, 52, explained: ‘I terribly want children but I didn’t want to have them with Les.’
Sexy stuff: Five years later though, things came to a crashing close when it was revealed that Amanda had an affair with her Happy Birthday Shakespeare co-star Neil Morrissey – something she later insisted was ‘just about sex’ (Neil and Amanda seen in 2003)
Les – who is now married to his third wife Claire Nicholson – even considered the prospect of Amanda playing herself in the movie of his life.
Speaking on the White Wine Question Time podcast, Les opened up about the idea of a hypothetical biopic saying: ‘I suppose Amanda would have to be there.
‘It’s a chapter in my life that was huge, and I have no idea who to cast in that role.’
Speaking about the split afterwards, Amanda said: ‘I brought it on myself, I appreciate that, but nothing will ever be as bad again. It was a very dark time. It got to the point where I felt I could hardly breathe’.
She later said: ‘In some ways, I’ve always admired him for the way he doesn’t try to hide his real emotions. He’s honest about how he feels…
‘My trouble is that I’m a people pleaser. I might feel down in the dumps but I’ll always put on a bright face for the rest of the world…
‘And I’m ruled by my heart, not my head. I always have been and it gets me into trouble. I’m not an enigma. I’ve wished all my life that I could be mysterious…
‘But I ain’t. I don’t know what it is about me but people have always picked up on the slightest comment or some insignificant thing I’ve done, and suddenly I’m all over the papers again.’
In 2014 Neil finally said sorry to game show host Les for the affair he had with his then-wife Amanda. The star, who has previously said he had not apologised to Les, made the admission on Piers Morgan’s Life Stories.
Dancing: The TV personality, 69, – who left Strictly Come Dancing with his pro partner Nancy Xu (pictured) – recently made a surprising confession about his former love after their difficult past
His love: Les has been married to Claire Nicholson since 2009 after meeting in 2005. They have a daughter Grace, 15, and son Thomas, 12 (Les and Claire in 2019)
He said: ‘I feel sorry for how the situation was dealt with and I feel sorry for how emotional Les seemed to become. It was very difficult for him and for that I’m sorry.’
His comment came after he was asked by Piers if he had ever apologised to Les, to which he replied: ‘No, I didn’t. I’m not positive over what there is apologise about. I don’t know what the whole situation was, to be perfectly fair to everybody.’
Earlier this year, Les tickled fans when he appeared to take a swipe at his ex wife after she posted a slew of saucy snaps from Paris to her Instagram.
Les sent tongues wagging after he seemingly took a jab at his former partner’s post.
Amanda shared an array of snaps of herself out for an evening in the French capital.
Les then cheekily posted a snap from his less than luxurious dressing room – as he tours the country with musical 42nd Street – writing: ‘Not in Paris. In Leicester’.
Les has been married to Claire Nicholson since 2009 after meeting in 2005. They have a daughter Grace, 15, and son Thomas, 12.
Prior to his marriage to Amanda Les was married to Lynn Webster, with whom he shares son Phillip, from 1974 to 1990.
Happy couple: Amanda wed her music producer Chris Hughes husband in 2008 (pictured together in 2014)
Amanda meanwhile has been married to Chris Hughes since 2009 and they share two daughters.In July, Les recalled the surprising first time he laid eyes on Chri s.
In a strange twist of fate Les was managed by Chris’ dad Mike Hughes at the beginning of career and first met the record producer when he was a small child.
Speaking on White Wine Question Time with Kate Thornton he said: ‘I tell this story in my book that when Mike became my manager in 1973 and Lynne and I were about to get married – my first wife, Lynne – we were excited that Mike had become my manager’.
‘She said, ‘let’s drive past his house’ because he lived on Queens Drive in Liverpool, we passed, and the curtains were open, and I went, ‘look, there he is’, and we saw Mike Hughes picking up a little child and swinging the child around’.
