Amanda Holden became tearful on Heart Breakfast while discussing the classic children's tale Black Beauty with co-presenter Jamie Theakston. The emotional moment came during a conversation about potential reboots of vintage TV programmes, including Play School.
Black Beauty theme triggers tears
Jamie declared Black Beauty had the "greatest theme tune", prompting Amanda to respond: "What about Black Beauty? This is the one I can't read because I can't...I can't believe I've even read it out. I can't do it."
Jamie admitted he had overlooked that Amanda is always left tearful by Anna Sewell's classic tale, which follows a spirited young colt as he grows up and is shaped into a working horse in Victorian England. Amanda confessed: "It sends me off. It's just terrible. You played it while I was riding a unicorn in Leicester Square. It took the edge off it for me."
"Let's move on"
Despite Amanda's protests, Jamie played the music. She remarked: "It's just so sad." When he asked whether she had "any tears", Amanda confessed: "They're starting. They're prickling. Yeah, let's move on." Asked if they were "happy tears", she responded poignantly: "It's just the music."
This is not the first time Amanda has been moved on air. In 2025, as a judge on Britain's Got Talent, she admitted shedding tears after a surprise audition on the red carpet alongside Simon Cowell, Bruno Tonioli and Alesha Dixon, as the crowd sang Electric Light Orchestra's "Mr Blue Sky". She said: "What a massive surprise. I felt really tearful when you all started singing. It was absolutely gorgeous."
Gardeners' World suggestion
Elsewhere, Amanda has floated a possible replacement for Monty Don on BBC's Gardeners' World. Earlier this month, the presenter revealed the current run will be his last, ending his 23-year tenure. Monty said: "That connection with millions, not just in Britain but across the world, who share a love of gardens, plants and the natural world is something I have always treasured and which I increasingly believe to be at the heart of a life well lived."
Amanda suggested former Men Behaving Badly star Caroline Quentin could be the perfect fit, describing her as "fascinating". She said: "People might not know this, she's fascinating, she's funny, she's an actress, she knows a lot about gardening and growing things. I've known her for years and I follow her on Instagram and she's also an amazing artist, so she paints a lot of flowers and vegetables and things but she'd be really good."
Jamie remarked that Monty would be sorely missed and that he had "big hands". Amanda quipped: "Oh yeah, Caroline's got big hands, she'll be alright", before adding: "She's going to hate me for that!"
