Britain's Got Talent judge Amanda Holden was left squirming and red-faced during a recent episode of her Heart Radio breakfast show after a live lie detector test caught her out in a fib about the ITV talent contest.
The Live On-Air Interrogation
The 54-year-old radio presenter, who sits on the BGT panel alongside Simon Cowell, Bruno Tonioli, and Alesha Dixon, was put through the test by co-host Jamie Theakston. The examination quickly took an awkward turn when the examiner posed a direct question about her judging role. When asked, 'Have you ever pretended to love an act on Britain’s Got Talent but actually hated it?', Holden confidently replied, 'No'.
Jamie Theakston immediately interjected, stating, 'We know the answer to that one', a suspicion that was swiftly confirmed by the polygraph operator. The examiner declared, 'You’re not doing very well, Amanda! That was a bit of a deceptive reaction'. A flustered Holden was then heard pleading, 'Don’t ask me which ones!', tacitly admitting to the falsehood.
Simon Cowell's Dress Sense Under Scrutiny
The test didn't stop there, turning its focus to Holden's fellow judge and show boss, Simon Cowell. Asked, 'Do you think Simon Cowell’s dress sense is good?', Amanda attempted a diplomatic dodge. She claimed she approved of his suit-wearing during the live finals, but the machine again detected deception.
'Oh. I’m seeing a bit of a deceptive reaction Amanda, I’m sorry, Simon Cowell,' the examiner announced. This prompted a hurried clarification from Holden, who added, 'He does look very handsome on the live shows! In a shirt and jacket.'
A History of Tough Audiences and Future Plans
This revelation about being less than genuine with contestants may not shock long-time viewers, as the show has faced challenging audience behaviour in the past. Holden recalled that during filming for the eighteenth series, the abuse from the crowd became so severe that producers had to temporarily halt proceedings and turn off cameras.
She explained that audience members directed insults and rude gestures at Simon Cowell, only to later approach him for selfies, which he refused. Reflecting on the show's evolution, Holden, who has been a judge since BGT began in 2007, admitted she 'cannot imagine' still being in the role in another 18 years. She suggested it might be time to 'pass the baton down' to a new generation in the future.
As the show prepares for new auditions, including a first-ever visit to Blackpool, Holden praised the northern town's history of producing tough, club-honed talent. She even suggested Blackpool could be the 'future' for auditions, telling fans to 'forget London'.
Amanda Holden presents Heart Breakfast with Jamie Theakston weekdays from 06.30 – 10.00 across the UK and on Global Player.
