In a remarkably candid moment on their popular BBC travel series, television personality Amanda Holden has spoken openly about the regrets stemming from her first marriage to comedian Les Dennis.
A Heart-to-Heart on Greek Soil
The emotional conversation unfolded during the latest episode of Amanda & Alan’s Greek Job, where Holden confided in her close friend and co-host, Alan Carr. She admitted to having "made mistakes" in the past, specifically referencing her marriage breakdown.
Amanda and Les Dennis married in 1995 after a whirlwind romance, but separated seven years later in 2002, finalising their divorce in 2003. The split followed the public revelation of her affair with fellow actor Neil Morrissey, which came to light two years prior.
Life Shaped by Past Choices
"I mean, obviously we’ve both been through a divorce, we’ve both made mistakes and as much as I regret hurting people maybe, or causing chaos, it shapes you to who you are in this moment," Holden shared with Carr. She added a philosophical note, stating, "I think life is too short to have regrets."
The conversation then turned to Carr's own experiences. The comedian, who is currently single following his own divorce from husband Paul Drayton in 2022, reflected on personal struggles. "I mean it’s not decisions for me but knowing your worth and the amount of times I’ve been walked over and people have demeaned me," he said.
Holden, offering support, called him "soft" and "lovely," prompting Carr to admit he often wished he'd been "bolder and a bit stronger." The pair also discussed the difficulty of trusting and loving again after a painful split, with Carr confessing, "I don’t really trust anyone really, that’s the trouble."
New Lives and Lasting Friendships
Amanda Holden has since found lasting happiness with music producer Chris Hughes. The couple married in 2008 and share two daughters: Lexi, born in 2006, and Hollie, born in 2012.
Alan Carr was previously in a 14-year relationship with Paul Drayton. They married in a ceremony officiated by singer Adele in 2018, but the relationship sadly ended during the lockdown period, leading to divorce in 2022.
The intimate chat between the two presenters follows Holden's recent revelation about how she knew Carr had succeeded on BBC's The Celebrity Traitors. She became suspicious when her normally communicative friend, who calls her daily, went silent for two weeks during filming at Ardross Castle in Scotland. Her hunch was correct, as Carr went on to win the series.
Holden expressed delight at her friend's renewed popularity, telling the Mirror, "He's been around for so long, but everyone's suddenly like, 'Oh, I love Alan Carr'... it's brought a whole new generation."
