Amanda Holden has revealed she 'hated' temporarily replacing Simon Cowell as head judge on Britain's Got Talent. The 54-year-old, who has been a judge since the show began in 2007, took over the central seat for the first two days of filming series 19 after Cowell fell down stairs and bumped his head.
Holden told the Daily Star that she felt 'outcast' sitting in Cowell's usual spot. 'I must admit I hated sitting in that seat! I've been on the show the longest, so I understand why I probably need to sit in that seat, but when I was there, I felt very outcast on the end,' she said.
She added that Cowell's team of staff and family were watching from the side, while her own team 'decided to eat my snacks and sit in the dressing room paying no attention to the show or me whatsoever'. Holden said Cowell asked if she felt powerful, but she replied: 'I hated it because I had to keep leaning in to be part of the conversation. I never want to sit in that seat again! I'm juicy in the middle, it's such a good spot.'
During Cowell's absence, Stacey Solomon temporarily joined the panel alongside Alesha Dixon and newcomer KSI, who replaced Bruno Tonioli. Holden praised Solomon, saying: 'She's so lovely and I think we've got quite a similar style of judging. She's warm, she's super funny, she has a great understanding of what it's like to be on the other side.'
Britain's Got Talent returns for its 19th series on Saturday 21 February at 7pm on ITV and ITVX.
